Preparations are on to enhance the capacity of ITI Naini in view of the orders being received from government and non-government sector for making solar panels.

A new plant for making solar panels of 525 watt will be set up in ITI. This is being done after the instructions of the Indian Telecom Ministry. An amount of Rs 110 crore will be spent on setting up a new 525 watt solar panels plant by the next year. At present, the ITI has manufactured solar panels of up to 325 watt capacity since 2017.

After setting up the new plant, Naini’s unit will be able to increase its share in the solar panel manufacturing sector in the country.

Sources informed that going by the potential in the market, the company is all set to enhance its capacity and will be manufacturing solar panels that can harness solar energy of 525 W and further to 600 watt and 700 watt too.

“Solar panels and harnessing solar energy are the need of the hour and going by the potential, ITI Naini, which is already manufacturing 325 watt solar panels will start manufacturing panels, each one of which can harness solar power up to 525W and more”, said an official of ITI.

In terms of yearly production, the unit manufactures solar panels, which can harness 30 Mega Watt (MW) of solar energy comes to around 65,000 panels per year. With the enhanced capacity, the unit will start manufacturing around seven lakh panels per year. Along with increasing the production of solar panels, the land of the Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) complex at Naini will be given on lease and rent and the ITI management has started its preparations too. The management has put out an advertisement for Expression of Interest (EOI) for leasing and renting out the unit located at Naini. Some private sector agencies have also shown interest in taking land in the ITI campus. The agencies have visited the premises. The team of experts had also visited the unit to see the possibilities. About 100 acres can be leased and rented.