Costlier Cells from China Jolt Indian Solar Supply Chains

Surging prices of solar cells from China are rattling Indian module makers who depend on the neighboring nation for the essential component.

Volatile prices of silver, a key electricity conductor, are making cells unaffordable to some Indian businesses, according to Avinash Hiranandani, managing director at RenewSys India Pvt., which operates 2.5 gigawatts of module assembly capacity. The looming holidays for Chinese New Year have also put suppliers on a wait and watch mode, he said.