'India will soon have fully domestic supply chain in solar'

ReNew Energy Global Plc (ReNew) recently announced fresh investments of ₹60,000 crore ($6.7 billion) to set up green energy projects in Andhra Pradesh. Sumant Sinha, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of ReNew, speaks to Shine Jacob in an interaction on the bigger plan, the company’s foray into wafer manufacturing, and concerns in the transmission segment. Edited excerpts:

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With fresh plans, your total investments in Andhra Pradesh come to around ₹82,000 crore ($9.3 billion). How do you view the state’s potential to absorb these investments?

= There are a few reasons why we chose Andhra Pradesh for our investments. It is blessed with good renewable energy resources. There hasn't been much penetration of wind and solar in the state so far. In addition to that, it is blessed with dynamic and supportive leadership.

They have ensured that all the issues one faces in getting approvals and navigating through the system are taken care of in a speedy manner through a single-window clearance mindset. They have been very proactive in addressing our priorities like allocation of land, and in lining up good incentives.

Of the ₹82,000 crore investment pipeline, we are already working on a ₹22,000 crore project. In the additional investment, the 6 gigawatt (Gw) ingotwafer plant is likely to be set up closer to Visakhapatnam. The green hydrogen plant will be at a port, and we are discussing that with the state government. The

2 Gw pumped hydro project we will announce later, and the clean energy projects will most likely be in the Rayalaseema area. Thus, the investment by us will be spread across the state.