In a move to reduce the dependence on imports for solar ingots and wafers, Hosur-based Raana Semiconductors has signed an agreement with solar module maker Swelect Energy Systems to supply CZ machines. Raana is in the process of developing indigenous CZ systems used in the manufacturing of silicon ingots.
This follows Swelect’s recent expansion into upstream ingot and wafer manufacturing.
As per the agreement, Swelect, through its subsidiary Swelect HHV Solar Photovoltaics Ltd, has signed a pre-purchase agreement for the supply of 12-inch CZ systems from Raana for its planned 1GW ingot manufacturing facility
The CZ (Czochralski) method is one of the popular processes through which pure silicon is converted into single-crystal ingots, which can then be sliced into silicon wafers to be used in chips, solar cells, sensors, and other applications.
Raana is the first Indian company working towards building these machines indigenously.
“Our support goes beyond the equipment. Raana will hand-hold SHPV team through process optimisation and process recipe development, so the facility ramps up smoothly and reaches higher yields sooner. SHPV’s team will also be trained at our pilot facility, which will help them operate and maintain the growers with minimal downtime,” the start-up said in a social media post.
Speaking to businessline, Arulkumar Shanmugasundaram, MD and CEO, Swelect Energy Systems, said that sourcing critical components of the solar supply chain locally will be a big boost to the sector. However, he added that it is still early days for Raana’s under development CZ system, which is projected to deliver better performance and output compared to imports.
The Chennai-based Swelect is also currently scoping possible locations for its ingot facility. “Tamil Nadu is obviously on the radar considering that we are based here. But we are also looking at other states,” he said.
Rajasekar Elavarasan, founder and CEO, Raana Semiconductors had previously told businessline that the company expects to launch its first commercial-grade 12-inch CZ single-crystal machine for solar cell wafers in the next 10-12 months.
The deployment of the indigenous CZ system will be a major boost to India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem especially at a time when China, the dominant global supplier of these machines, has initiated plans to restrict its exports.
Multiple Indian solar module makers like Grew Solar, Vikram Solar and Swelect Energy are in the process of building ingot/wafer manufacturing capacities.
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has also proposed to include solar ingots and wafers under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) from June 1, 2028, enforcing local sourcing of these components for module manufacturers.
Published on November 11, 2026
