India can become fully independent of China in the solar manufacturing sector almost immediately if it chooses to do so, Dr Peter Fath, a globally recognised renewable energy expert and CEO of RCT Solutions, said in an exclusive interview with Firstpost.
Speaking at the Solar Technology Conference India 2025, Fath said to Firstpost Europe is ready to support India across the entire solar value chain — from technology and machinery to advanced manufacturing and recycling — as the country emerges as a key global hub for solar production.
India now the ‘big hope’ for western equipment makers
Fath underlined that western equipment makers, who once exported large volumes of machinery to China, are now increasingly looking at India as their long-term partner.
“In the German machine-making sector, India is everywhere,” Fath said, who also hails from Germany. “Most western equipment makers exported a lot of goods to China and saw their technology copied. Now our big hope is India.”
‘US is up and down on mood of President Trump’
On recent tariff reliefs announced by the United States, Fath said Washington’s approach tends to fluctuate depending on President Donald Trump’s mood.
“The US is up and down depending on the mood of President Trump,” he said. “Right now, he is in a good mood towards India, and the deal is mostly driven by the European–Indian trade treaty. So that’s something the US will come back to India for — solar products.”
India can cut China dependence immediately
Fath stressed that India already has access to everything required to build a fully domestic solar supply chain.
“If India would like, you could be fully independent from China immediately. Fully independent,” he said.
“From technology, Europe is on your side. From equipment and production machinery, Europe is available and on your side. If you look at the supply chain, you can set up the whole solar supply chain in India very quickly.”
However, he flagged cost sensitivity as a key challenge.
“The only problem is the purchasing approach in India,” he said. “Most Indian players like to purchase at a lower cost, and that does not come with European equipment and technology.”
“That cost is paid back by higher efficiency, higher performance and higher quality,” he added.
Europe–India cooperation deepening
Fath said cooperation between Europe and India in the solar sector has increased significantly.
“As a European, I say you have your friends. We are available,” he said. He also highlighted that Europe is open to supplying any technology India requires. “We have done the same for China. We have done the same for Taiwan and Korea.”
‘Politically and in spirit…India is everywhere’: EU–India trade deal a strategic partnership
On the EU–India trade agreement termed as the “mother of all deals”, Fath said it reflects shared democratic values and a deeper political and industrial partnership.
“1.4 billion people closer to us. We are democracies. We are friends. We are partners,” he said.
“This treaty is just a written form of this friendship and support.”
As a spokesman for German machine makers at the VDMA, Fath said there is strong backing for India across the sector. “There is no hesitation to support whatever you need in India — not only from the tariff point of view, but also politically and in spirit. India is everywhere.”
India’s growing global role in solar manufacturing
Fath said India’s solar manufacturing sector has already achieved global relevance.
“India is already shipping goods to the US and to Europe, and there is a huge domestic demand as well,” he said. “This combination will make the Indian manufacturing sector very strong.”
He noted that Europe, with around 60 gigawatts of solar deployments, and India together represent one of the world’s largest solar markets. With European manufacturing lagging behind demand, “Europe would like to source most of its solar products from India”.
Need for indigenous technology and automation
Despite his optimism, Fath said India must invest more in its own innovation.
“If you want to be really strong, you need your own development, your own technology, your own automation and your own machinery,” he said, adding that this remains a gap in the Indian solar sector.
Recycling, sustainability and workforce
Calling solar a “circular and beautiful” industry, Fath said Europe has developed fully automated recycling technologies that India can adopt.
“All modules can be totally recycled — copper, metals, glass and silicon — and reused in India,” he said.
Sustainability, he added, goes beyond carbon footprint and circularity.
“It also means how we treat the people,” he said. “You need motivated workers and motivated engineers to support your factories. They are the real ROEX.”
‘India is our hope’
Ending on an optimistic note, Fath said he remains confident about India’s future in renewable energy.
“I am super positive. India is our hope.”
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