New Delhi: A US investigation into potential solar tariff evasion will not impact Waaree Energies’ investment plans, including the expansion of its Texas facility and exploration of setting up a solar cell manufacturing capability in the high-growth, strategic US market, the company said Sunday.
Waaree is one of the largest vertically integrated companies in the manufacturing of solar modules, which convert sun rays into electricity. It has an operational capacity of 13.3 GW in India and commenced operations at its US solar module manufacturing plant in Houston, Texas, in January this year with an initial installed capacity of 1.6 GW. The Texas facility is being scaled to 3.2 GW by FY27.
Last week, US customs officials launched an investigation into whether Waaree bypassed tariffs on Chinese-made solar cells and panels by falsely labeling them as manufactured in India.
“The investigation has no impact on our investment plans. The Texas plant expansion from 1.6 GW to 3.2 GW is already underway,” the firm said.
“Our recent acquisition of US-based Meyer Burger assets further strengthens our long-term manufacturing footprint in the country. The United States is a high-growth, strategic market for Waaree, and we continue to invest in local jobs, technology, and capacity,” the company added.
“Waaree Energies will continue to operate with integrity, and we reaffirm our strong commitment to the US market—both as a clean energy partner and as a growing localized manufacturer,” the firm said in a written Q&A to PTI.
The company stated that it is providing all required information to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during the ongoing inquiry. “As a responsible corporate citizen, we have consistently complied with all applicable local laws and regulations,” the company emphasized.
“Our internal assessment indicates no material duty exposure, and we continue to engage transparently with CBP throughout this process,” Waaree added.
Importantly, there has been no operational disruption; the US manufacturing operations and customer deliveries continue as planned. “Based on our current assessment, we do not expect any material financial impact from this inquiry,” the firm noted.
The demand in the US solar market remains extremely strong and is growing rapidly, making it one of the most lucrative clean-energy markets globally. “Our diversified global supply chain and our domestic US production provide natural insulation from geopolitical or policy shocks, ensuring business continuity,” Waaree said.
Regarding manufacturing solar cells in the US, Waaree said backward integration is a key strategic priority. “In India, we have already built significant solar cell manufacturing capability and are exploring similar opportunities in the United States,” the company explained.
“We are evaluating options for US cell manufacturing in line with policy incentives and market demand, and any future investments will support our goal of becoming a holistic clean-energy transition company serving US customers end-to-end,” it added.
Waaree Solar Americas primarily serves the US market through its Texas manufacturing facility, which currently operates at 1.6 GW with expansion underway to 3.2 GW, thereby reducing reliance on imports.
“Where imports are required, we maintain a diversified supply chain across multiple countries to avoid any single-source dependence, and all such imports strictly comply with US trade regulations, including AD/CVD rules and rules of origin.
Our long-term strategy is to progressively localize more production within the United States to further reduce import needs, and detailed country-wise volumes are provided to regulators as required, though not disclosed publicly for competitive reasons,” the company concluded.
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