H&H Aluminium Pvt Ltd has inaugurated India's largest aluminium solar frame manufacturing facility in Rajkot, Gujarat, marking a significant step towards bolstering domestic solar supply chains and reducing reliance on Chinese imports. The new plant, established with an investment of INR 150 million (USD 1.8 million), boasts an annual production capacity of 24,000 tonnes and commenced trial operations in June 2025, with full commercial production expected within the next month. This strategic expansion is poised to address a critical gap in India's solar manufacturing ecosystem, which has historically depended heavily on foreign components.

Union Minister C.R. Patil inaugurated the facility, underscoring its national importance. H&H Aluminium projects annual revenues of INR 700–750 crore and direct employment for 300 individuals once fully operational. To ensure competitive quality, the company has equipped the 28,000 square meter plant with advanced aluminium extrusion presses and anodising equipment imported entirely from China, citing a lack of high-capacity domestic machinery. Uttam Patel, Director at H&H Aluminium, emphasized, “Our initial target is to meet the quality provided by China. Pricing and quality were the two major reasons why indigenous production of aluminium frames for solar modules did not pick up in India. The quality (of domestic production) is not at par with that of China.” The company plans to source raw aluminium ingots from domestic producers such as National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) and Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO), anticipating a monthly requirement of approximately 2,000 tonnes.

India's solar industry has historically imported 90-95% of its aluminium solar panel frames from China. In a move to foster local manufacturing and reduce this dependence, the Indian government implemented an anti-dumping duty ranging from USD 403 to USD 577 per tonne on anodised aluminium frames from China in September 2024, set for five years. Patel noted, “This anti-dumping duty came after we had bought land and machinery for the project. We knew the government would help.” This policy aligns with a broader industry trend towards backward integration. Premier Energies, India’s second-largest integrated solar PV manufacturer, exemplifies this shift, having announced a INR 230 crore investment for a 36,000 tonnes per annum aluminium frame plant for captive consumption. As of March 31, 2024, Premier Energies operates 2 GW of annual solar cell capacity and 4.13 GW in module manufacturing. The increasing adoption of aluminium in India’s renewable infrastructure is driven by its inherent properties—lightweight, corrosion resistance, recyclability, and structural strength—which are crucial for durable solar module frames.