Que: Aerem Solutions recently secured 136 crore in funding from the SMBC Asia Rising Fund. What does this mean for the company, and how do you plan to deploy this capital?

Ans: For Aerem Solutions, this goes beyond the traditional financial support, but more towards growing the right infrastructure and opportunities for a sustainable India. Our vision for this collaboration was to get the opportunity to improve and accelerate the solar ecosystem in India. We already know that India is facing significant under-utilisation of its solar capacity, and that gives us all the more reason to see through the gaps that currently exist, with the backing of SMBC. We aim to find solutions, and monitor their standards to bring forward a fresh perspective to the Indian market, as it matures day-by-day. We hope to make a significant contribution to India’s 500 GW goal by 2030.

Que: Energy storage is becoming increasingly critical for ensuring reliability and resilience in renewable energy systems. How does SunStore and AeROC help the solar storage space, particularly for businesses and communities seeking reliable off-grid power?

Ans: SunStore and AeROC support the solar storage space by enabling a more structured, reliable, and accessible approach towards not only solar adoption but maintenance too.

SunStore provides a curated procurement platform for the convenience of consumers to procure an extensive range of products under a single belt of e-commerce, while AeROC strengthens quality control and performance monitoring to ensure the systems build trust in the ability of solar in India. For businesses and off-grid communities, this translates into dependable, end-to-end energy solutions that ensure consistent power even in areas with limited or unreliable grid access.

Que: How is AI transforming solar plant monitoring and performance optimisation, and what measurable benefits have you observed so far?

Ans: As of now, our services of monitoring do not involve an active role of AI - however with the changing times, and growing need for speed and effectiveness - AI will surely become a significant part of solar solutions. It is true that AI can help companies analyse real-time and historical data in one- enabling a more efficient energy generation process.

Que: Access to finance remains a key barrier to solar adoption. How does NetZero, Aerem’s NBFC initiative, help bridge this gap?

Ans: NetZero acts as a financial bridge between the intent of industries and households to adopt solar solutions, in comparison with the stage of having installed those solutions. From lending funds to creating a hassle-free and collateral-free process, the core job for us is to offer structured loan products to homeowners, MSMEs, and EPC players who want to go solar but can't bear the upfront cost. This builds credibility in the idea of solar in general - even for those who remain unaware of the growth prospects that lead to efficient results.

In fact, when a marquee institution like SMBC backs Aerem's NBFC - NetZero, it effectively lowers the perceived risk for every other lender in the room. This directly translates into creating a trustable cycle for a customer, who may stick to solar consumption.

Que: Given your experience working at the intersection of policy and entrepreneurship, how important is the alignment between government policy and private sector innovation for achieving India’s renewable ambitions?

Ans: Alignment between government policy and private sector innovation is absolutely critical to achieving India’s renewable energy ambitions. Policies set the direction through targets, incentives, and regulatory frameworks, while the private sector drives execution, encouraging scaling. Without clear and consistent policy support, the sector cannot be effectively organised, let alone scaled.

A strong public-private synergy not only de-risks investments but also ensures that renewable energy transitions from being policy-driven to market-led and sustainable in the long run.

Que: One of the primary goals of renewable energy is to expand energy access. How do Aerem’s solutions contribute to delivering reliable and affordable clean power to underserved regions or industries?

Ans: India’s distributed solar gap is most evident not in metros, but across Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, rural MSMEs, and farming communities where grid unreliability is a daily challenge. Through AeROC’s monitoring and performance tracking capabilities, solar adoption becomes more viable, as EPCs can consistently evaluate system performance and reliability over time.

Aerem’s core strength lies in its full-stack approach - bringing together access to quality products, financing, execution, and ongoing supervision under one roof. This integrated model not only simplifies adoption but also builds trust among consumers, enabling them to invest in solar solutions with greater confidence and achieve efficient, long-term outcomes.

Que: As India aggressively pursues its clean energy targets, how do you envision the solar sector evolving over the next five years?

Ans: We hope to see India progress not just in scale, but in sophistication. PM Surya Ghar has already accelerated residential adoption in a way that would have seemed optimistic even a couple of years ago, while the duty changes announced in Budget 2026 have provided much-needed relief to the sector.

Going forward, a strong focus on technology, innovation, and transparency will be key to driving deeper awareness and adoption of solar energy across the country. The intent and collaboration between government and industry in the coming years will play a defining role in shaping India’s journey toward becoming one of the largest solar markets globally. While this will take time, the growth potential of the sector remains exceptionally strong.