Solar power equipment maker ABB plans to strengthen its presence in India as it feels that the country's PV market is one of the most rapidly growing solar power markets in the world.

The company recently opened a new production line for its central inverter PVS800 product range in Bangalore. The production capacity of the line is more than 500 mw annually.

With this new production facility, the firm expects to support its customers in India with even more rapid delivery times and provide faster support for varying project needs, says Antti Suontausta, ABB’s global product group manager for renewable energy power converters.

The firm has delivered the first orders from the new production line and it reports having booked over 200 megawatts (mw) of orders.

The long-term commitment of the Indian government to developing a sound and healthy PV market makes it reasonable for ABB to expand production.

Over 100 mw of ABB central inverters have been installed in India since the end of 2011, the company said. After the latest orders, the installed base of ABB central inverters in India will increase. The biggest single plant to use ABB central inverters will now be approximately 60 mw, and is run by one of the key EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors in India.