Luminous to Build RE-Powered Solar Panel Factory in Uttarakhand
Luminous Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Schneider Electric, will be developing a solar panel factory in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. This plant will be entirely powered by solar energy and is expected to be operational by December 2023.
Fully-Robotic Unit to have Annual Solar Panels Capacity equivalent to 500 MW
Luminous’ upcoming solar panel plant will be fully-robotic in the manufacturing process. It will be capable of producing solar panels of 500 MW collective capacity every year, which can be subsequently scaled up to 1 GW per annum. Individual units of outputs ranging from 40W to 600W will be produced at this manufacturing facility.
The factory will be spread over an area of 10 acre, and will mark Luminous’ entry into the solar panel manufacturing space.
Speaking to the press about this upcoming unit on 27th January 2023, Ms. Preeti Bajaj, CEO and Managing Director of Luminous Power Technologies, said, “We are excited to announce the set up of our first solar panel facility in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. This is a major step forward in Luminous Power Technologies’ journey towards enabling a cleaner and more sustainable future”.
Earlier, while speaking to ANI in September 2022, Ms. Bajaj had said, “India’s potential for rooftop solar is estimated at 200 gigawatts, a lot of that is in the commercial and industrial segment, but home is also significant. That seems to be an opportunity area because Luminous is focused on home consumers”.
Luminous’ Upcoming Facility Certified as a Green Facility by IGBC
Mr. Rajiv Ganju, Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain, Luminous Power Technologies shared that the company’s upcoming solar panel unit in Rudrapur has been certified as a green facility by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
IGBC is a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which was established in 2001, and gives green building ratings based on their eco-friendliness.
Since the energy required for Luminous’ solar panel factory will be 100% Renewable Energy (RE), it is expected to mitigate emissions by over 70 million tonne of CO2 equivalent.
Luminous Engaged in Battery R&D, to Invest 500 Cr. to Expand Battery Production
Luminous Signs MoU with CSIR-IICT to Develop Rechargeable Aluminium Battery
On 23rd January 2023, Luminous and Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a Rechargeable Aluminium Battery (RAB). This battery will cater to home energy storage requirements, which include those of solar applications and invertors.
Company to Enhance Battery Production Capacity by 50%
Ms. Preeti Bajaj had stated in September 2022 that the company has plans to invest about Rs. 500 crore to expand its battery production capacity. This investment also entails setting up a new manufacturing facility in eastern India. As of now, the location of this plant has not been disclosed.
This investment will be specifically focused on developing battery solutions and is in line with Luminous’ target to increase its battery production capacity by 50% in the coming few years, and further grow its overall revenue by 50% by 2025.
About Luminous Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd.: Gurugram-based Luminous Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd. is a subsidiary of France’s Schneider Electric. The company has six manufacturing units and presence in over 40 countries. In April 2022, RR Kabel, an Indian wire and cable manufacturer, acquired Luminous’ Home Electrical Business (HEB), which includes fans and lighting products.