A large number of global energy players are focussing on renewable sources of cheap and clean energy, to meet the demand from developing countries. For them, what better source can there be than the sun? The solar farm appears to be the next big unfolding market, after the wind farm, in India, going by the number of players putting their money on generating electricity through photovoltaic (pv) modules, which harness the sun's energy.The Government of India has proposals worth Rs65,000 crore to make semi-conductor units, pv cells and poly-silicon, required for harnessing solar energy. And there is considerable optimism about pv modules being able to generate electricity too. Take the US-based Signet Solar Inc, manufacturer of silicon-coated thin film pv modules, which has signed anMoU with the Tamil Nadu government, to set up its first base in India in the Special Economic Zone at Sripe-rumbudur, at an investment of Rs2,000 crore. The long-term commitment of Signet Solar is based on the growth rate of Solar pv, a $10 billion industry growing at 40 per cent pa.Moser Baer Photo Voltaic (a subsidiary of Moser Baer India) is targeting an annual capacity of 80 mw and has plans to invest Rsl 12 crore on its pv plant in Oragadem, near Chennai. Titan Energy Systems, iso certified for crystalline and amorphous pv modules, is investing over Rs5,000 crore at the fab city, Hyderabad.It is not as though solar pv is new to the 'alternative energy' field. Germany, Japan and the US are leaders in solar pv installations. And countries like Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal have announced aggressive initiatives, resulting in prices of electricity generated under solar steadily coming down by more than 50 per cent over the last decade and grid parity is projected in the next five years.Buoyed by an order book fully committed for the next three years of production in Germany, Signet had increased its capacity to 100 mw. The Chennai plant will further augment the capacity to over 300 mw each year. The Signet team is upbeat about the Tamil Nadu manufacturing base, with attractive incentives offered by the new semi-conductor policy, as well as the state's environment^ which is conducive to it.pv electricity is the choice of millions in Japan, Germany and the US," says Prabhu Goel, founder and chairman, Signet Solar. "The cost of pv electricity comes down drastically, with built-in environmental considerations and, of course, an unbeatable value proposition, saving fossil fuels. But the best thing that has happened is the silicon-on-glass technology to create thin pv panels. This revolutionary nano-technology costs less than crystalline technology."The US-based Applied Materials is a leading provider of this energy-efficient nano-technology. "Applied Materials is diversifying into energy-efficient technologies that incorporate nano-manufacturing solutions," says Arulkumar Shanmugasundaram, general manager, sales, Applied Materials, India.Keshav Prasad, vice-president, business development, Signet Solar India, is optimistic that the global demand for Solar pv is expected to grow from 1.7 gw in 2006 to 8 gw in 2010. The welcome development is that Solar pv electricity cost will become increasingly cheaper, with large-scale deployment of solar farms. And companies like Moser Baer India, Signet and others have their work cut out in market development and integrating solar pv technologies, with housing design as well as creating awareness for the long-term benefits of clean and renewable energy generated at low cost.