Inverter manufacturing in India 2026: ALMM expansion and PLI signals
India's domestic solar inverter manufacturing capacity reached 18 GW in Q1 2026, up from 12 GW one year ago. PLI scheme for advanced inverter technology is under MNRE consultation, expected to formally launch H2 2026. Sungrow, Sineng, Delta, Hitachi Energy, and emerging Indian players Servotech and Statcon are positioning for the next phase.
In 50 words: India's domestic solar inverter manufacturing capacity reached 18 GW in Q1 2026, up from 12 GW one year ago. A PLI scheme for advanced inverter technology is under MNRE consultation. Sungrow, Sineng, Delta, Hitachi Energy and emerging Indian players Servotech and Statcon are positioning for the next phase.
Capacity at a glance
Indian solar inverter manufacturing capacity, April 2026:
- Sungrow India: 5 GW
- Sineng India: 3 GW
- Delta India: 2 GW
- Hitachi Energy India: 1.5 GW
- Statcon Energiaa: 1.5 GW
- Servotech: 1 GW
- Others: 4 GW
- Total: ~18 GW
What's driving expansion
Three factors:
- ALMM and domestic content requirements. SECI tenders increasingly require ALMM-listed inverters; pure import dependence is uncomfortable for government-supported procurement.
- PLI scheme signalling. MNRE consultation paper for PLI for advanced inverter manufacturing (grid-forming, SiC-based central platforms) circulated Q1 2026. Formal launch expected H2 2026.
- Cost competitiveness. Indian-manufactured string inverters in 100–350 kW range now within 5–8% of imported pricing, narrowing the procurement gap.
What's still imported
- Most central inverters above 1 MW (no domestic capacity at this scale)
- Specialty grid-forming inverters
- SiC-based high-power-density platforms
- Most string inverters above 350 kW per unit
These represent roughly 30–40% of utility-scale Indian inverter demand and remain dominated by Chinese imports.
What the PLI could do
If the rumoured PLI scheme launches as discussed in the consultation paper:
- ~₹4,000 crore incentive over 5 years
- Targeting grid-forming capability and SiC-based platforms
- Likely 4–5 successful applicants
- Beneficiaries: existing capacity holders with serious R&D investment (Sungrow, Delta) and new entrants with manufacturing capability (Reliance, Adani-aligned)
What developers should expect
For tenders bid in 2026–2027:
- ALMM-listed inverter availability up materially in 100–350 kW string range
- Premium for grid-forming compliance to compress as PLI scheme expands supplier capability
- Continued reliance on imported solutions for 1 MW+ central inverters
What to watch next
The formal PLI scheme launch — expected H2 2026. The qualifying criteria will reveal whether the scheme targets specifically grid-forming capability or treats all advanced inverter platforms equally.
Researched and drafted with AI assistance; reviewed and edited by the named editor within 24 hours of draft.