Jyotitech Solar plans capacity expansion

A considerable drop in the solar power price has been observed for the last couple of months. As a manufacturer how is it going to impact your business?
As far as Megawatt and Gigawatt solar PV projects are concerned, the per kWh (per unit) price has recently been dropped considerably which is good for the solar PV industry. However for many domestic manufacturers like Jyotitech Solar there is a vast scope in the sub-megawatt solar PV rooftops segment. Jyotitech Solar is supplying solar PV modules to many EPC players, installers, system integrators and there is an increased demand of solar PV modules in solar PV rooftop segment.

We have optimised production cost, improved processes and produce quality products using international standards to mitigate price challenges. We have a business model to ensure customer satisfaction and best values for our stakeholders and employees.

Cheap import is dominating Indian solar manufacturers hard. Your comments?
There are many Chinese companies which have dumped solar PV modules in India and supplying modules at cheaper or discounted rates than Indian manufacturers. Even many Indian players are importing Chinese modules at 2-3 USD cents lower than Indian made modules without understanding the impact of domination of Chinese on Indian manufacturers. There has to be a fair competition and equal level playing field for Indian manufacturers to make their business model sustainable on long term basis.

How to counter this?
The government must through various policies support domestic manufacturing companies by providing financial support, mandating some percentage of Indian made solar modules in solar farm projects and exploring to impose duties like in Europe and USA.

What are your strategies to enhance exports business?
There is a huge potential for domestic manufacturers to export solar PV modules to foreign countries. Jyotitech Solar is regularly exporting solar PV modules to European countries. Now we are focussing on South East Asia, Africa and Middle East markets for exports.

Since government’s renewable energy mission is on rapid growth. How is your company contributing to it?
Our government’s renewable energy mission to achieve a target of 100 GW solar power by 2022 is boosting demands of PV modules in the markets. Out of 100 GW, we will be contributing in the space of 40 GW distributed and grid connected solar rooftops in residential, social, institutional and government sectors.

Jyotitech Solar will be enhancing solar PV module manufacturing capacity as a commitment towards “Make in India” initiative by the Government of India.

What are your suggestions to boost domestic manufacturing?
Unfortunately about 85-90 per cent of the modules used in India are manufactured in China causing huge impact on 100 GW target. To boost domestic manufacturing, there must be economical options of insurance products for the domestic solar PV module manufacturers to remain in the race of MW/GW capacity projects.

Efforts must be in place in finding ways to remove policy bottlenecks such that Indian companies get equal opportunities and platform to compete.

Authorities should work towards removing implementation challenges by imparting training to DISCOMs and energy development agencies officials so that they are fully aware of net metering policies.

Projects must be promoted based on domestically produced modules which will minimise outflow of Forex and help in achieving India’s energy security.

Also, government organisations should be mandated to procure modules produced domestically which will not hurt ex-chequer.

What opportunities do you foresee in the solar sector in 2018?
Over the years, Indian solar PV industry and the government have together made a lot of efforts to generate awareness in the market for use of renewable clean energy. Because of central and state government policies, net metering policy and the reduction in prices over the period has opened up many opportunities in solar PV rooftop sectors.

Jyotitech Solar sees an increased demand of solar PV modules mainly coming from EPC providers and system integrators in grid-tied solar rooftops segment in residential, social, education, Industrial and healthcare sectors. These markets will grow exponentially in 2018 which will lead to increased job opportunities across complete upstream and downstream supply chain.

Shailesh Patni, Head – Sales and Marketing, Jyotitech Solar LLP