Solar solutions from Orb Energy empower Indian SMEs

Orb Energy fosters SMEs and promotes the adoption of sustainable solar electricity across India with its vertically integrated strategy

Damian Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of Orb Energy illuminates the company’s vertically integrated approach to solar manufacturing, emphasising its commitment to quality control and sustainability. 

How does Orb Energy’s vertically integrated approach to solar manufacturing ensure quality control?

We decided to invest in our solar manufacturing plant because we realised that our primary customers – SMEs — wanted to purchase modules made in India. When we make the module here, we control the manufacturing technology used, the quality of the components that go into it, and the process used to make it. 

In short, when we do it ourselves, we can control quality much better than if we purchase from outside, and we can make our customers happier because they now have a local manufacturer they can turn to who provides a whole stack of solutions from module supply to system design, installation, and even financing. 

How does the company maintain its leading position in India’s rooftop solar market?

First and foremost, Orb Energy is unique in the Indian rooftop solar industry in having an in-house finance facility established for SMEs. We don’t ask SMEs to run around to various banks to arrange a loan for rooftop solar: we provide this off our balance sheet and keep it all in-house for a seamless customer experience. Also, our in-house finance is collateral-free, which means the SMEs can keep their collateral for their core business.

Secondly, we have also innovated with a new off-site solution for our rooftop customers who find their power demands exceed the space available. We now offer plots in a solar park to SMEs to buy and own completely.  

With India’s renewable energy market expanding, how will Orb Energy meet the growing demand for solar power?

As per the above, we have innovated our solar park, targeting high-power-consuming SMEs, otherwise left out of the group captive model for solar parks. Ours is a capex model specifically tailored to the needs of SME customers whose roof space needs to be bigger to generate the amount of solar power they want to consume. After successfully executing our first solar park, Orb is preparing to roll out multiple solar parks that target SMEs with significant power needs in the coming years.

How does your solution, from manufacturing to financing, enhance customer experience?

For customers, this means that everything they need for the successful execution of a rooftop solar system or a ground-mounted solar system is kept in-house within Orb Energy. They don’t have to go out and look for separate financing, module supply, or EPC — they get all of this from Orb Energy. We also execute to a very high-quality level, and customers can see that in the finished product installed on their roof.

What are the company’s sustainability goals for the upcoming fiscal year? 

Orb Energy has installed more than 300 MW rooftop solar and commercial water heating solutions for more than 11,000 SME customers. We are confident that by 2030, we will exceed 1 gw of total PV installations. Orb Energy’s innovative strategies, such as in-house finance for SMEs and off-site solutions like solar parks position the company as a leader in India’s rooftop solar market. With a focus on meeting growing demand through tailored solutions and comprehensive services, Orb Energy is poised for further expansion. 

Spokesperson: Damian Miller, Co-Founder and CEO, Orb Energy