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					</table><p><a href="https://worldsolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solarworld Energy Solutions</a> has acquired a 50% equity stake in Rays Green Energy Manufacturing for ₹268.2 million (~$2.83 million) in the first tranche of its equity subscription. Rays Green Energy Manufacturing is Solarworld’s joint venture (JV) with <a href="https://rayspowerinfra.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rays Power Infra</a>.</p>
<p>Following the payment, Rays Green allotted 12,600 equity shares to Solarworld at an issue price of ₹21,287 (~$224.45) per share. The shares have a face value of ₹10 (~$0.11) each and carry a premium of ₹21,277 (~$224.34) per share.</p>
<p>With the allotment, Solarworld will hold 50% of Rays Green&#8217;s paid-up equity share capital, while Rays Power will hold the remaining half.</p>
<p>Solarworld will subscribe to additional equity shares worth up to ₹731.8 million (~$7.71 million) in accordance with the terms of the securities subscription agreement and JV agreement.</p>
<p>The development comes more than a month after Solarworld Energy Solutions and Rays Power Infra <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solarworld-and-ray-power-to-set-up-2-4-gw-solar-cell-manufacturing-jv?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that they would set up a JV to establish a 2.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Madhya Pradesh. The joint venture will establish, develop, construct, commission, and operate a solar cell manufacturing facility on approximately 41.3 acres at Mohasa, Babai, in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district.</p>
<p>The agreement provides for a combined financial commitment of up to ₹5.2 billion (~$55.02 million), comprising equity subscriptions of up to ₹2 billion (~$21.16 million) from Solarworld and Rays Power and the proposed ₹3.2 billion (~$33.86 million) loan from Solarworld.</p>
<p>The project has an estimated cost of ₹10 billion (~$105.81 million). Of this, ₹4.2 billion (~$44.44 million) is proposed to be funded using unutilized proceeds from Solarworld’s initial public offering.</p>
<p>The facility will manufacture n-type TOPCon G12R solar cells. Commercial production is scheduled to begin in June 2027. Building construction is expected to be completed in January 2027.</p>
<p>In the first quarter of FY 2027, Solarworld Energy <a href="https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESlQEB6zswFY3MxyCHURyFbrxTuSWCzBOzcuiaceFCevGGCknsaOSPoZ80FxBi9mp5nOj2fpR-5l2NcoIgaKPLIeywKGTtoHpqhqbY8kkGQsF4niizuQ7Iiy5pGiIiGrTP3CUgrAKhhljkjyv6vQ3jO250tuJkLWuTVVeMh7dLm04n22h30JoLXIFxFBzXKaq59mf03u8hqQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> a revenue of ₹1.78 billion (~$18.62 million), up 121% year-over-year from ₹805.5 million (~$8.42 million).</p>


Solarworld Acquires 50% Stake in 2.4 GW Solar Cell Manufacturing JV


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					</table><p>As energy storage becomes increasingly important to renewable energy integration, solar companies are positioning themselves for the next phase of growth by building battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturing capabilities.</p>
<p>In an exclusive interview with Mercom India, Kartik Teltia, Managing Director at <a href="https://worldsolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solarworld Energy Solutions</a>, discussed the growing role of energy storage, the dominance of TOPCon solar module technology, and the need for upstream manufacturing capabilities.</p>
<p><strong>What is Solarworld&#8217;s current solar module manufacturing capacity, and what are the company&#8217;s expansion plans for solar cell and module production?</strong></p>
<p>Our ALMM-listed module manufacturing facility in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, has a capacity of 1.55 GW and uses N-Type TOPCon technology. This gives us a strong base to serve both our own EPC pipeline and the wider market as India scales solar manufacturing.</p>
<p>We have entered into a joint venture with Rays Power Infra to set up a 2.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh, with commercial production targeted for June 2027.</p>
<p>Once operational, this will allow us to supply modules with domestically manufactured cells rather than relying on imports.</p>
<p><strong>Which solar module technologies is Solarworld prioritizing? How do you expect the TOPCon, HJT, and larger wafer format technologies to evolve in India?</strong></p>
<p>At Solarworld, our modules are built on N-Type TOPCon, currently the technology of choice across the industry. Recent industry data shows TOPCon accounted for close to 40 GW of the roughly 44 GW of new module capacity India added in the first half of this year. In contrast, HJT capacity was added for the first time at a much smaller scale, at around 1 GW.</p>
<p>I expect that gap to persist for the next few years. TOPCon has reached a point where the supply chain, equipment, and cost curve are all mature, whereas HJT still carries higher capital costs and a thinner domestic ecosystem.</p>
<p>On wafer formats, the industry has largely settled on the larger M10R and G12R formats, which we also use, since they improve output per module and reduce balance-of-system costs for developers.</p>
<p>HJT will likely find its place in premium or space-constrained applications rather than replacing TOPCon at utility scale in the near term. Our own investment plans, including the upcoming cell facility, are built around this TOPCon-led trajectory.</p>
<p><strong>Project developers often raise concerns about module reliability, including micro-cracks and long-term degradation. What manufacturing and quality-control measures does Solarworld use to address these concerns?</strong></p>
<p>At Solarworld, we build reliability into the manufacturing process itself, rather than checking for it only at the end of the line. Our facility uses automated production processes, reducing manual handling and inconsistent thermal exposure that can contribute to micro-cracks and soldering-related defects in solar modules.</p>
<p>Every module we manufacture goes through extended reliability testing and compliance checks against the requirements of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the ALMM before it leaves our Roorkee facility.</p>
<p>This layered testing approach is designed to identify defects, whether cosmetic or structural, well before a module reaches a project site. Our experience with large-scale EPC projects also shapes how we manufacture and test our modules.</p>
<p><strong>Energy storage is becoming increasingly important for grid stability. Solarworld has commissioned an automated 3.6 GW BESS manufacturing line. What is the engineering architecture of this facility, and how is the company positioning its storage solutions in the market?</strong></p>
<p>Energy storage is becoming a critical part of the renewable energy ecosystem. India&#8217;s storage requirement is projected to grow several times over by the early 2030s as renewable capacity scales and grid stability needs increase. We see BESS manufacturing as a natural extension of our solar manufacturing base and existing utility relationships.</p>
<p>We have commissioned a fully automated 3.6 GWh BESS manufacturing facility at Roorkee, built with KUKA robotics across the production line to ensure consistency at scale. The facility is designed around a liquid-cooled architecture for both our commercial and industrial units and larger containerized systems, as thermal management is critical to battery life and safety at grid scale.</p>
<p><strong>India is rapidly expanding domestic solar manufacturing, but upstream segments such as wafers and ingots are heavily import-dependent. How should the industry prepare for the possibility of ALMM requirements extending further upstream?</strong></p>
<p>MNRE has extended the ALMM framework to cells from June 2026, and further upstream to ingots and wafers under a new List III from June 2028, with conditions requiring at least three independent manufacturers with a combined manufacturing capacity of 15 GW before the list can be issued.</p>
<p>The policy direction is clear, and companies need to plan their investment cycles accordingly rather than wait. Wafers and ingots are capital-intensive and still almost entirely import-dependent in India, so the runway before 2028 needs to be used effectively.</p>
<p>At Solarworld, we will evaluate wafer and ingot integration as the domestic ecosystem matures.</p>
<p>The industry must prioritize building a domestic wafer and ingot supply base with meaningful operating scale rather than relying solely on announced capacity.</p>
<p><strong>How does the current inverted duty structure and GST framework affect domestic manufacturers and EPC companies? What policy changes would help create a more competitive domestic manufacturing ecosystem?</strong></p>
<p>The inverted duty structure remains a working-capital challenge for both domestic manufacturers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies.</p>
<p>The accumulated input tax credit locks up capital that could otherwise support capacity expansion, technology adoption, and faster project execution.</p>
<p>Rationalizing GST rates on key inputs to bring them closer to those applicable to finished systems would improve cash-flow efficiency and reduce friction for domestic manufacturers and EPC companies.</p>
<p><strong>Solarworld has a portfolio of more than 1.5 GW of solar EPC projects across India. What are the key operational challenges in developing and executing large-scale utility projects today, and how does backward integration give the company an advantage?</strong></p>
<p>Land acquisition and aggregation remain recurring hurdles, especially for large utility-scale sites involving multiple parcels and approvals. Grid evacuation and transmission readiness are other challenges, as project timelines are increasingly tied to how quickly connectivity infrastructure catches up with generation capacity.</p>
<p>By developing our upstream supply chain, we have gained greater control over the quality and availability of the components going into our projects, rather than depending entirely on external suppliers during periods of tight supply or price volatility.</p>
<p><strong>What is your outlook for 2030 in India&#8217;s clean energy transition?</strong></p>
<p>By 2030, we expect Solarworld to be a fully integrated renewable energy company across solar modules, solar cells, EPC, and battery storage systems manufacturing.</p>
<p>India is expected to add close to 345 GW of renewable capacity between 2025 and 2030, with utility-scale solar accounting for the largest share of that growth, while storage will increasingly complement renewable energy as the grid absorbs more variable generation.</p>
<p>We want to be positioned at multiple points along that value chain. Our cell manufacturing facility is targeted to begin commercial production soon, and our BESS manufacturing business is built with that horizon in mind.</p>
<p><em>This interview was sponsored by Solarworld Energy Solutions.</em></p>


Solar Firms Build BESS Capacity for Next Growth Phase: Interview


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					</table><p>Uttar Pradesh-based renewable energy company <a href="https://www.worldsolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solarworld Energy Solutions</a> has reported a revenue of ₹1.78 billion (~$18.62 million) in the first quarter (Q1) of the financial year (FY) 2027, rising 121% year-over-year (YoY) compared to ₹805.5 million (~$8.42 million).</p>
<p>Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) stood at ₹206.6 million (~$2.16 million), reducing by 2.3% YoY compared to ₹211.4 million (~$2.21 million).</p>
<p>Profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter was ₹95 million (~$993,646), down 26.4% in comparison with ₹129.1 million (~$1.35 million).</p>
<p>Earnings per share came in at ₹1.09 (~$0.011), compared to ₹1.74 (~$0.02) in Q1 FY 2026.</p>
<p>The company said its revenue is typically weighted toward the second half of the financial year, as design approvals and equipment procurement dominate the first two quarters.</p>
<p>Solarworld <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solarworlds-q4-revenue-doubles-as-its-solar-and-bess-manufacturing-scales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> consolidated revenue from operations of ₹5.92 billion (~$61.94 million) in Q4 FY 2026.</p>
<p><strong>Business Updates</strong></p>
<p>Solarworld stated that 95% of its engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects include operations and maintenance contracts (O&amp;M) with tenures of three to five years.</p>
<p>Supply accounted for about 80% of an EPC order, while execution contributed 10% to 15% and O&amp;M roughly 5%.</p>
<p>Solar modules account for approximately 40% of EPC project costs, and capturing the margins earned by external module suppliers could potentially improve EPC margins by three to four percentage points.</p>
<p>Solarworld said it planned to utilize 60% to 80% of its manufacturing capacity internally to support its EPC business.</p>
<p>The company said EPC businesses typically generate PAT margins of approximately 10% to 11%.</p>
<p>Solarworld’s indicative project costs include ₹13 million (~$135,972)/MW for modules and from approximately ₹9 million (~$94,135)/MW to ₹9.5 million (~$99,364)/MW for execution, including installation, structures, cables, and transformers but excluding land.</p>
<p>Costs excluding modules were estimated at ₹9 million (~$94,135)/MW to ₹10.5 million (~$109,824)/MW, depending on the use of trackers.</p>
<p><strong>Outlook</strong></p>
<p>Solarworld is targeting a 60:40 revenue mix between energy storage systems and solar EPC, as it aims to scale its presence in the energy storage segment.</p>
<p>The company is also developing a 1.2 GW solar cell manufacturing facility, with commercial operations expected to begin by June 2027. It estimated an investment of approximately ₹5.75 billion (~$60.14 million) for the 1.2 GW solar cell manufacturing facility at Pandhurna, Madhya Pradesh. Of this, ₹4.2 billion (~$44 million) was proposed to be funded through initial public offering proceeds and ₹1.55 billion (~$16.21 million) through debt.</p>
<p>In the energy storage segment, the company expects assembling imported lithium-ion cells into battery packs and containerized systems domestically to provide cost advantages compared with importing complete containers, which attract duties of approximately 22%.</p>
<p>Solarworld expects a couple of strong years ahead, supported by backward integration and a healthy tender pipeline, but did not provide quantified FY 2027 revenue or profit guidance. The company said it was net debt-free and expects internal accruals and its existing capital base to support EPC growth over the next few years.</p>
<p>It expects revenue to become more evenly distributed across quarters as its project base expands and manufacturing operations scale up.</p>
<p>Solarworld plans to utilize 60% to 80% of its manufacturing capacity internally to support its EPC business. This is expected to improve cost efficiencies, strengthen supply-chain reliability, and reduce dependence on external suppliers.</p>
<p>The company said roughly 40 GWh to 50 GWh of energy storage systems orders had been issued in India and expects a shortage of experienced project executors. It expects energy storage to emerge as a key growth segment, targeting utility-scale projects for volumes while pursuing comparatively higher-margin opportunities in the commercial and industrial segment.</p>
<p>Solarworld said future manufacturing expansion will remain tied to the requirements of its EPC business rather than a shift toward standalone manufacturing.</p>
<p>In March, Solarworld was among the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-announces-2-3-gwh-energy-storage-auction-winners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winners</a> of NTPC’s auction to set up 2,334 MWh of battery energy storage systems at its thermal power stations across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana (Lot-I). It secured 264 MWh capacity for the Solapur thermal station in Maharashtra.</p>


Solarworld’s Q1 Revenue Up by 121%, Bets Big on Energy Storage Business


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					</table><p>Uttar Pradesh-based renewable energy company <a href="https://www.worldsolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solarworld Energy Solutions</a>’ revenue from operations for the second quarter (Q2) of the financial year (FY) 2026 fell 2.8% year-over-year (YoY) to ₹1.38 billion (~$15.58 million) from ₹1.42 billion (~$16 million).</p>
<p>The dip in revenue was attributed to a ₹67.32 million (~$760,157) loss from the manufacturing segment.</p>
<p>Net profit fell 58% YoY to ₹92.9 million (~$1.04 million) from ₹222.69 million (~$2.5 million).</p>
<p>The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) dropped 48.6% YoY to ₹1.52 billion (~$17 million) from ₹2.96 billion (~$33 million).</p>
<p>Earnings per share came in at ₹1.24 (~$0.014) compared to ₹3.14 (~$0.035) during the same period the preceding year.</p>
<p><strong>1H Results</strong></p>
<p>In the first half of FY 2026, the company reported a 25% YoY rise in revenue to ₹2.06 billion (~$23 million) from ₹1.65 billion (~$18.6 million).</p>
<p>Net profit dropped by 10.9% to ₹222.01 million (2.5 million) from ₹249.22 million (~$2.8 million) during the same period last year.</p>
<p>Earnings per share came in at ₹2.98(~$0.033) compared to ₹3.54(~$0.039) during the same period the preceding year.</p>
<p><strong>Business Highlights</strong></p>
<p>Solarworld has a portfolio exceeding 1 GW of renewable energy projects.</p>
<p>It has a 1.8 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Roorkee, manufacturing monocrystalline, bifacial, and N-Type TOPCon solar modules.</p>
<p>The company’s services include engineering, procurement, and construction of ground-mounted projects, rooftop installations, and independent power producer and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. It also offers services in asset management.</p>
<p>In October, the company <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solarworld-energys-ipo-receives-strong-response" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debuted</a> on the stock exchanges after its ₹6 billion (~$71.6 million) initial public offering was oversubscribed 65 times.</p>
<p>In the same month, the company signed a binding term sheet for the execution of engineering, procurement, and construction of 200 MW ground-mount solar projects. The projects were won at a contract value of ₹8.03 billion (~$90.6 million). In April this year, Solarworld Energy Solutions was one of the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solarworld-and-h-g-infra-win-gujarats-500-mw-1000-mwh-bess-auction">winners</a> of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam’s auction to set up a 500 MW/1,000 MWh standalone BESS under tariff-based competitive bidding (Phase VI). Solar World won 200 MW at a tariff of ₹280,000 (~$3,288.31)/MW/month.</p>
<p>It also has a 125MW/250 MWh BESS project in Kota, Rajasthan, under construction.</p>
<p>In Q1 of FY 2026, the company‘s total income <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/in-the-first-quarter-after-going-public-solarworlds-revenue-goes-up-242-yoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rose</a> 241.8% YoY to ₹805.5 million (~$9.16 million) from ₹235.7 million (~$2.68 million).</p>


Solarworld’s Q2 Revenue Down 2.8% Due to Losses in Manufacturing Segment


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.worldsolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solarworld Energy Solutions</a> has filed draft papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (<a href="https://www.sebi.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEBI</a>) to raise ₹6 billion (~$71.6 million) through an Initial Public Offering (IPO).</p>
<p>The IPO includes a fresh equity issuance of ₹5.5 billion (~$65.6 million) worth of shares and an offer-for-sale of ₹500 million (~$5.9 million) by its promoter, Pioneer Facor IT Infradevelopers.</p>
<p>The promoters currently hold 82.15% of the equity stake in the company, while public investors such as Value Quest Scale Fund own the remaining 17.85%.</p>
<p>The Uttar Pradesh-based company, which specializes in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for solar power projects, may raise an additional ₹1.1 billion (~$13.1 million) through a preferential allotment or other methods before submitting its Red Herring Prospectus to the Registrar of Companies.</p>
<p>Any funds raised through this pre-IPO process will be subtracted from the fresh issue.</p>
<p>The company has over 500 MW of operational ground-mounted solar projects and an target of achieving 5 GW by 2028.</p>
<p>Solarworld is currently developing 700 MW of solar projects.</p>
<p>Recently, Solarworld Energy Solutions <a href="https://www.worldsolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a contract with SJVN Green Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of SJVN, to supply a balance of system package for two grid-connected solar power projects with a total capacity of 360 MW in Gujarat. The two projects, with 100 MW and 260 MW capacity, will be installed at Mothara village in the Kutch district of Gujarat.</p>
<p>In July 2022, SJVN <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-epc-125-mw-solar-projects-uttar-pradesh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> the EPC contract with Solarworld Energy Solutions to deploy a 75 MW solar project in Gurah village in Jalaun district and a 50 MW project in Gujrai village in Kanpur district. The estimated cost of these two EPC contracts was ₹6.91 billion (~$83.1 million), which includes end-to-end delivery of the solar project and operation and maintenance for two years.</p>


EPC Services Company Solarworld Energy Files for ₹6 Billion IPO


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					</table><p><a href="https://worldsolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solarworld Energy Solutions</a> has signed a contract with SJVN Green Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of <a href="https://sjvn.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SJVN</a>, to supply balance of system (BoS) package for two grid-connected solar power projects with a total capacity of 360 MW in Gujarat.</p>
<p>The two projects, with 100 MW and 260 MW capacity, will be installed at Mothara village in the Kutch district of Gujarat.</p>
<p>The projects are expected to be completed within a year. The contract does not involve module supply.</p>
<p>Solarworld will also take care of the project’s operation and maintenance for three years.</p>
<p>The tender was <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-bids-bos-package-360-mw-solar-projects-gujarat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> in July.</p>
<p>The scope of work encompasses various tasks, including land development, design, and engineering. It also includes equipment procurement, testing at the manufacturer’s works, packing, forwarding, and transportation.</p>
<p>The responsibilities extend to associated civil and electrical works, as well as services, permits, licenses, installation, erection, testing, commissioning, and performance demonstration of the solar projects.</p>
<p>The scope is considered to include all equipment, materials, and services necessary for the satisfactory operation of the solar project. Solarworld will supply a 220 kV switchyard along with the transmission system. They will be responsible for the integration with the evacuation system provided by the state electricity authority, even if not explicitly mentioned in the bid documents or the contractor&#8217;s proposal.</p>
<p>In July 2022, SJVN <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-epc-125-mw-solar-projects-uttar-pradesh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> the EPC contract with Solarworld Energy Solutions to deploy a 75 MW solar project in Gurah village in Jalaun district and a 50 MW project in Gujrai village in Kanpur district. The estimated cost of these two EPC contracts was ₹6.91 billion (~$83.1 million), which includes end-to-end delivery of the solar project and operation and maintenance for two years.</p>
<p>In a first-of-its-kind transaction undertaken by a public sector undertaking, SJVN <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-%E2%82%B9100-billion-fund-construction-renewable-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> ₹100 billion (~$1.2 billion) construction financing facility to fund its upcoming renewable energy projects. Deutsche Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, and Mitsubishi, and United Financial of Japan Financial Group Bank raised the financing.</p>


SJVN Signs BoS Supply Contract for 360 MW Solar Projects in Gujarat

<p>On Tuesday, the much-anticipated public hearing by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on the Suniva and SolarWorld Section 201 trade case was held in Washington, D.C., with both sides making lengthy arguments for and against tariffs on imported solar equipment in front of a huge crowd.</p>
<p>Suniva and SolarWorld made their case for imposing tariffs by focusing on the sharp increase in imports into the U.S., loss of domestic solar manufacturing capacity, and job losses due to the closure of tens of manufacturing units around the country in the past five years. The two companies are requesting a $0.40/W tariff on imported solar cells and a $0.78/W tariff on imported modules for four years.</p>
<p>Suniva Attorney Matthew McConkey said, &#8220;Are we supposed to believe the almost 30 members of the domestic industry that have gone out of business over the last five years, all of them made bad decisions while companies in Korea (and other countries) were so brilliant? Please.&#8221;</p>
<p>SolarWorld CEO Juergen Stein said, “Quite simply, we need the commission’s help to save solar manufacturing in the United States.”</p>
<p>The first lesson from this hearing is to get organized. According to Indian government agencies, no objections or representation against the petition have been received from any stakeholders to-date in the Indian anti-dumping case. In the U.S., there was strong pushback from the project development side represented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). In a <a href="http://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/OPENING%20STATEMENT.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, SEIA made some strong points against the petitioners. According to SEIA, Suniva and SolarWorld failed not because of imports but instead because they failed to innovate and deliver quality products at scale.</p>
<p>The second lesson is to mobilize support. Both parties in the U.S. case recruited their local congressional representatives to help make their cases. Turnout for the hearing was very strong and several solar downstream companies testified against the petitioners. These witnesses made some important points and alleged unfair trade practices by the petitioners, claiming that they actually imported Asian-made products and labeled them as made in the U.S. These solar companies also said that Suniva and SolarWorld did not have any substantial market share in the large and growing utility‑scale sector because they lacked a 72-cell module. Solar companies also questioned the bankability and liquidity of the petitioners.</p>
<p>Even with such strong testimony, the petitioners still have a strong case and there is a good chance that a tariff might still be imposed but at a lower level than what was originally petitioned for.</p>
<p>The third lesson is to do your homework and lay out the worst case scenario. Both sides made passionate pleas and clearly showed dire consequences could follow if the decision did not come out in their favor. They showed the impact on their respective areas and the potential job losses on both sides. What may make a difference is the strong opposing presence from the rest of the solar industry, claims by SEIA that about 88,000 jobs may be lost if a tariff is imposed, and a letter from 69 members of Congress on behalf of their constituents asking the commission to not impose tariffs.</p>
<p>This was the first hearing in this case and will be followed by an ITC decision on September 22, 2017 on whether or not there was harm to domestic solar manufacturers. If the ITC finds that domestic manufacturers were harmed, there will be another hearing on October 3, 2017 followed by the issuance of ITC recommendations to President Donald Trump on November 13, 2017.  The President will then decide whether to accept the ITC recommendations or not on January 12, 2018. If the President agrees with the ITC recommendations, January 27, 2018 will be the effective date of remedy.</p>
<p>Incidentally, the provisional duty in the India solar <a href="https://mercomindia.com/indias-anti-dumping-investigation-solar-imports-china-taiwan-malaysia-underway/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antidumping case</a> can also be announced on September 22, 2017, the same day as the U.S. decision.</p>
<p>Image Credit: @HopperAbby Tweet</p>


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