Guide online Free signup Advertise my Company
Magazine
Free subscription magazine
Last edition
May-June 2026
Magazine May-June 2026
All magazines
Bharat Vasandani Madhavan N. & Hari... Urvish Dave

Interviews

Availability of Skilled Manpower in Construction and O&M Remains a Challenge

Renewable energy industry is growing very rapidly, and so are the jobs

The Renewable Energy industry is growing very rapidly, and so are the jobs in this sector. Yes, the female to male ratio is a bit low, but it is gradually improving as organisations are also looking at ways to make the workplace more equitable. I encourage women to apply for jobs in solar, as this is an exciting area to work in, with tremendous growth opportunities.

In an exclusive interaction series with women influencers in the power sector, Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India, interacted with Ritu Lal, Senior VP & Head, Institutional Relations at Amplus Solar. Here’re some edited excerpts from that interaction:

We are seeing digital transformation in the energy sector

In a few lines, what does your company offer to the sector and how many years has it been doing it?
MathWorks is focused on offering engineers and scientists’ tools and technologies that allow them to do their best work. Our products, MATLAB and Simulink are used extensively - in power & energy industry to develop and implement power system models, analyze big data, and automate processes, and develop embedded control and signal pr...

Technological Advancement, Innovation Key to Achieve AtmaNirbhar Bharat in Solar Manufacturing

There Must be Atleast 40% of BCD on Solar Modules for Indian Manufacturers to Compete

Building strong integrated solar industrial clusters along with clear policy framework from the government a must for solar manufactures to prosper in India. The government should also create a specialized infrastructure covering the entire value chain from R&D, testing, training center, and other required supporting services. We need a clear policy framework from the government ensuring substantial solar cell and module production demand in the next few years for Indian solar manufactures. There must be at least 40% of BCD on modules for the Indian manufacturers to compete with their Chinese counterparts, belives D.V. Manjunatha, Founder & Managing Director, Emmvee Group, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Manjunatha also discussed about his company’s products offerings, expansion plans, 2021 outlook, expectations etc. Here’re the edited excerpts:

Working with India, its Govt, its Companies and its People is Very Attractive to us

NEOM will Offer Investors, Entrepreneurs an Attractive Environment for Investment, Biz

NEOM will offer investors and entrepreneurs alike an attractive environment for business and investment, all supported by a progressive law compatible with international norms and conducive to economic growth. THE LINE, in turn, will power NEOM as it becomes a hub for innovation where global business and emerging players can research, incubate and commercialize ground-breaking technologies to accelerate human progress, shares Peter Terium, Head of Energy, Water and Food at NEOM – home of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious future smart city completely based on clean energy, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Terium previously headed German energy companies Innogy and RWE as CEO.

Need to Boost Infrastructure Financing and Encourage Regional Collaboration in Power Sharing

Rs 5,000 Cr Worth of Transmission Projects Currently Delayed Due to ROW Issues

The construction and commissioning of transmission projects worth more than Rs 5,000 crore are currently delayed due to ROW issues. Linear projects like transmission have little leeway in negotiating ROW, forest, wildlife, defence, airport, coastal zone etc. and are therefore heavily dependent on active government support. The tight execution timelines further amplify this challenge and complexity. Unavailability of ROW clearances is consequently affecting the construction schedule of these critical transmission projects and will impact project completion timelines, shares Vijay Chhibber, Director General of Electric Power Transmission Association (EPTA), in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Chhibber also discussed about the significance of power transmission sector in India’s road towards $5 trillion economy, impact of Covid-19 on upcoming projects, challenges faced by private players, expectation from Govt etc.

We will Put Much More Resources into Marketing to Further Expand Our Brand Reputation

We will ramp up marketing both online and offline

Kehua will put much more resources into marketing actions that covers both online and offline activities. We have built connections with the most influential organizations in different countries. What’s more, numerous of road shows and regional promotion activities will be organized together with our local partners to further expand our brand reputation, says Sunny Xu, CEO of Kehua Tech India, solar inverter manufacturer, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Xu discussed about various topics including her company’s journey in solar, plans for brand expansion, market USP, PV plus ESS applications etc.

We expect that by 2022, 30% of Projects to be Executed in Utility Segment with String Inverters

We are Targeting Over 600-800MW in India Next Year

We are targeting more than 600-800MW in India next year. This includes balanced product spread across residential, C&I and Utility segments. Our new advanced state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will also be ready by Feb – Mar, this will further fillip our shipments. With this new facility the total annual capacity will reach more than 20+GWs annually, says Honey Raza, Head – Sales India, Ginlong (Solis) Technologies, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Raza also shared about his company’s latest product offerings, investment & expansion plans etc. Here’re the edited excerpts

We Must Understand that an Equal World is an Enabled World

Rooftop Solar Sector Needs its Own Set of Policies

Rooftop solar in India has not been able to scale up to the level and attained critical mass although it has tremendous potential. This has been primarily due to inadequate policy push and more focus been given to utility scale solar. Rooftop solar sector needs its own set of policies directed to promote rapid deployment of assets such as removal of upper limit for net metering, better financing options, and avoiding frequent policy revisions. In an exclusive interaction series with women influencers in the power sector, Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India, interacted with Rajni Bhandari, AGM- Marketing at Amp Energy India. Here’re some edited excerpts from that interaction:

EV Still at Nascent Stage in India, Challenges have been Multi-Fold and Multi-Dimensional

There are a few good schemes that are launched by the Government for Startups; however, they are not implemented in true letter and spirit. So essentially a start-up is not able to utilise it properly and the scheme stays as a marketing exercise only. In my view, there is more that can be done for promoting start-ups in India.

In an exclusive interaction series with startup companies in the energy and mobility sector, Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India, interacted with Nishant Saini, Founder and MD of EEE-Taxi. Here’re the edited excerpts from that interaction:

Energy Sector has Potential to Play Major Role in Economic Revival & Creating Jobs after Crisis

To Achieve Most Competitive Tariffs in India, Investment Cost Must be Continuously Optimized

In order to achieve the most competitive tariffs in India, the cost of investment must be continuously optimized. This context will allow the implementation in the Indian market of improved technologies such as bifacial and higher efficiency solar panels, more performant wind turbines with higher capacity and larger diameter, or also other innovative solutions, such as molten salt storage solutions for solar electricity or wind and solar hybrid installations combined with energy management systems. These solutions are now being experimented in some countries, believes Harmanjit Nagi, Managing Director, EDF India – an arm of French multinational electric utility company, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Nagi also discussed about his company’s energy portfolio in India, its 2030 targets, EDF’s Pulse Start-up programme etc.

LiFePO4 Battery will Rule the Market in Coming Years

With Breakthrough of Technology and Rise in Market Demand, Price of LFP Battery will Drop in Near Future

The battery system is the core part of Energy Storage System (ESS), we think the LFP (LiFePO4) battery will rule the market in the coming years. Customers are concerned about the safety issue of the battery system especially when they get one installed inside their house. LFP battery is more stable and safer, also with reasonable energy density, which makes people feel safe and reliable. With the breakthrough of the technology and market demand increasing, the price of the LFP battery should drop down in near future, which makes the customer become affordable to pay it easily, believes Lisa Zhang, Marketing Director, Growatt in an exclusive interview with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Lisa shared her company’s product offerings for the Indian market, revenue targets, rooftop solar market expansion plans etc.

Changing Consumer Behavior is Key Challenge for the Energy Industry

If World has to Transition to Greener Distributed Energy, Consumers will have to Co-Participate as Energy Prosumers

While climate change is a big problem to solve and energy transition is going to be bigger than let us say, the telephony transition; however, changing consumer behavior is the key challenge for the energy industry. Having to sensitize business consumers to stop viewing energy as a commodity and see it as a finite resource has been a challenge. If the world has to transition to greener distributed energy systems, both residential and business consumers, will have to co-participate as energy prosumers in the future energy industry.

In an exclusive interaction series with startup companies in the energy sector, Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India, interacted with Rajesh Solanki, Founder & CEO, Energos. Here’re the edited excerpts from that interaction:

Apart from Cells, Modules Govt Should Support Setting up Silicon Ingots, Wafer Mfg in India

We have plans in place to double our capacity to 200 MW by next fiscal

There is a clear need for restricting cheap imports and boosting domestic manufacturing. Apart from cells and modules the Govt. Should support setting up of silicon ingots and wafers manufacturing units hence achieving vertical integration. The total self reliance can be achieved only by having complete control over the entire value chain. We also need to invest in the research and development of new technologies so as to come with new highly efficient innovative products. To capitalise on this opportunity we have plans in place to double our capacity to 200 MW by next fiscal, believes Manish Gupta, Managing Director, Insolation Energy Pvt. Ltd., in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Gupta discussed on various topics including the impact of various policy initiatives taken by the govt, his company’s plans under Make in India initiative, suggestions for the policy makers etc.

2020 has been a Milestone Year for FIMER

We have utilised the coronavirus pandemic time to focus on transitioning our operations and to create one team

2020 has been a milestone year for FIMER. In our bid to create a bold new era for solar, we acquired ABB’s solar inverter business in March 2020, establishing our position as the fourth largest inverter manufacturer in the world, with a global footprint across five continents and operations in more than 100 countries. While the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the overall market, we have utilised this time to focus on transitioning our operations and to create one team, believes Filippo Carzaniga, Chairman (BoD), Fimer Group - world’s fourth largest inverter manufacturer, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Carzaniga also discussed about his company’s product portfolio for Indian customers, their specialty, manufacturing capabilities under Make in India etc

We Want to Install Solar on the Roofs of 1 Million Home-Owners in Next 5 Years

Absence of Single Window Approval for Net Metering and Govt Subsidies is a Big Challenge

Lack of single window approval for net metering and government subsidies is one big issue which is a bit out of our hands - takes too much time and resource and hits our customer satisfaction scores negatively. In an exclusive interaction series with startup companies in the energy sector, Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India, interacted with Pranesh Chaudhary, Founder & CEO, ZunRoof Tech Private Limited. Here’re the edited excerpts from that interaction:

Government Should Come Up with Supportive Policies and Smooth System for Net Metering

Time to Focus on Domestic Manufacturing to Conserve Foreign Exchange, Create Jobs

Now is the time to focus on domestic manufacturing which would help conserve substantial foreign exchange and create atleast 3 to 4 lakh jobs in next five years. About 63 per cent of cell manufacturing capacity and 43 per cent of module manufacturing facilities in India are located at SEZs. Government should support local manufacturing and came up with supportive plans for SMEs as well, so they would get a chance in manufacturing and would be able to export as well as cater to domestic market. In an exclusive interaction series with women influencers in the power sector, Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India, interacted with Priyanka Mohan, Director, Kor Energy. Here’re some excerpts from that interaction:

We are Up for Bringing Our in-house Battery Show from USA to India soon.

Plans of Expanding the Horizon of REI are Already Set in Motion

The plans of expanding the horizon of REI are already set in motion. We are going big way in bringing Bio Energy sector to life once again as it has tremendous potential in India. Additionally, the Batteries and EVs pose huge potential and we are up for the grab in bringing our in-house event “The Battery Show” from USA into India soon. Not to forget, the Digital portfolio is here to stay that’d keep us insulated against any such natural / man-made calamity moving forward and will bring element of buoyancy, resilience in our businesses, said Rajneesh Khattar, Group Director - India, Informa Markets, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Khattar shares about how Informa is setting example by organising India’s first physical event amid Covid-19, precautions taken, his message for the industry, expansion plans among others.

Policy Support has been Insufficient for Realising the Full Potential of EV Market

Sofarsolar to Kick-Start Local Manufacturing Unit in 2021

We are doing good business in OEM segment, and are on top position in the OEM development in Indian market. Our management has decided to start local manufacturing unit in 2021, and will announce very soon about the location. We are very aggressive towards developing our business on local manufacturing concept, said Brijesh Prajapati, Managing Director- India, Sofarsolar, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Prajapati shares about his company’s product offerings, business growth, expertise, expansion plans for India etc.

In the longer term ArcVera has expansive plans for India

Our expertise is perfectly suitable to the application of winning tenders

We provide accurate long-term hourly and short-interval ten-minute time series of energy production estimates to inform the design of hybrid projects. Without a granular, time series approach in methodology, major errors in design and expectations for hybrid performance accrue, and worst-case scenarios persist unmitigated. Our expertise is perfectly suitable to the application of winning tenders, or energy auctions simply because small details and accuracy matter much more with respect to the return-on-investment when compared with a feed-in-tariff structured market, says Dr. Gregory S. Poulos, Founder and CEO, ArcVera Renewables, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Dr. Gregory discussed about his company’s offerings for the Indian market, target customers, long term plans for India etc.

To Boost EVs’ Demand in India, Govt Should Focus on Both Fiscal and Non-Fiscal Impediments

Amphenol sets up manufacturing & assembly lines to fulfil electrical connectors’ requirement

To complement our existing business and to further expand our product lines and technological capabilities, Amphenol has come up with Amphenol PCD, Chennai and their state of art manufacturing & assembly lines have been set up at Maramalai Nagar, Chennai to fulfil the requirement of electrical connectors to be used in Electric Vehicle, Rail mass transit, Data centre and Energy storage, says Naresh Kumar, General Manager, Amphenol PCD, in an exclusive conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Energetica India. Kumar discussed extensively about Amphenol’s business expansion under Make in India, it’s product offerings, accomplished targets, FAME-II scheme etc.
 
 
 
Next events
All events
 
 
Last interviews
All interviews
 
Follow us