In Exclusive Talk With Mr. Krishnendu Mukherjee, COO, Sova Solar Ltd.

1. What are your plans for Manufacturing set up in India, the opportunities and challenges in manufacturing in India? What are your plans for India, your view on the GOI target of 100GW Solar Power by 2022 ?

Ans: Sova Solar plans to be a 1 GW solar module manufacturer by 2019. As a part of our commitment to the “Make in India” initiative by the Government of India, we are augmenting our annual plant capacity to 300 MW within this calender year. The 100 GW JNNSM target has been a market booster for us. Given the pressure on price due to ultra low tariff and potential Chinese competitors selling in India at prices lower than their actual cost, remains a challenge. We are expecting  our Government to allow us a level playing field in near future.

2. Please share in brief about your company, promoters,  its vision & mission?

Ans: Let me tell about the vision of our company.The vision of Sova Solar is an ethical leader, driven by quality and innovation to provide customer satisfaction with sustainable growth.Our mission is to produce product commensurate to the international quality and standard, to promote and support clean, secure and economically viable renewable energy developments for a greener future . Moreover, definitely focus on long term , sustainable business models to ensure best values and mutual advantages for our stakeholders and employees.

Shri Subrata Mukherjee , my father, is the promoter of this company. He has an wide experience in different field of different industries like Steel , Coal Cement and others. His passion for green industry had set our force towards this industry. He is having 40 years of business experience and which is the pivotal strength of our business. After completion of my B.Tech from NIT Durgapur I have joined the business and simultaneously persuade the MBA. It is more than 5 yearsI have joined this business and enjoying it. Other directors are from different steps of different industry. They have wide business back ground. However,currently our manufacturing capacity is 200 Mw and and our aim is to reach 1GW.

3. Solar Trade Wars :What is Your View ? What are the Module Price Guideline on module prices for next Q3-Q4-2017 and 2018?

Ans: In the recent times, all forecast on cell, wafer and hence module prices are up exponentially, in contrary to the forecasts from globally acclaimed agencies. The mega projects bid & won at ultra low tariff are finding it difficult to sustain. While the interest cost is the only area of respite, the solar wafer, cell & module costs have defied prediction and gone up. The situation remains quite volatile at the moment, but likely to stabilise by Q3-Q4 2017. While there may be a downward trend, but very significant. In the coming year, the downward trend should follow, given the capacity addition in wafer plants globally.

4. What are the expectations from Government / NTPC / SECI / RUMS Team?

Ans: As I said earlier, we expect the Government of India to give the Indian module manufacturers a level playing field amidst uneven competition from China. Largest PSUs like NTPC are expected to enhance the quota of Make in India modules, to help us grow. The schemes like MSIPS requires to be more investors friendly. Some incentives and and safe guard duty may be brought into push our confidence.

5. What is the basic intention to make a collaboration with IIT- Kharagpur? How do you feel that it will help both you and your cutomer?

Ans: IIT Kharagpur has significant expertise in the area of Solar PV and have major academic as well as research programs. Prof. J N Roy of IIT Kharagpur who is a leading expert in Solar PV will be directly associated with Sova Solar. He will provide guidance on the product/manufacturing technology and Quality Management System (QMS). This will ensure Sova Solar to provide best quality modules to customers employing latest technology.

6. You have launched the SPV Modules with 1500V & Module with PERC Cell. What is the technology road map in terms of 1500V , PERC/PERT Technologies?

Ans: The string size of the SPV installation is continuously increasing resulting requirement of very high voltage. There are several technological challenges for such development. It is more challenging as Sova Solar making this product compatible to PERC/PERT cells. It has to be seen that the effectiveness of passivation achieved in PERC/PERT cells should not get nullified due to this extreme high voltage. Moreover, the PID related issues may have to looked into more carefully. As a road map Sova Solar’s present focus is to optimize this using conventional solar cells and then to extent this for PERC/PERT cells. Detail analysis on the PID related effects are also being done.

7. Kindly enlighten our readers on the performance of your modules in India in various geographic locations, customer feedback?

Ans: The market reports on our solar modules have been good. We have been quality conscious right from the   beginning and our plant comprises of best in class technology & quality process. We have recently collaborated with IIT Kharagpur, to bring about further improvement in our process & quality assurance.

8. How has RUMS Bid and SECI Wind Tender Bid has changed the dynamics for Solar & Wind Projects in India. What are the challenges, threats and new opportunities you see emerging now?

Ans: The results of these bids have been very exciting, as they pave the way for further investment in solar pv sector. At the same time, it is important that the projects are executed within the targeted cost, quality & timeline to demonstrate economic viability of such ultra low tariffs. Given the present impasse due to increase in wafer, cell & hence module price, it is quite a challenge and opens up scope for further innovation across the value chain.

9. How enjoyable is this trade to you ? Do you feel the target set for solar for celebration of 75^th year of our Independence is really achievable?

Ans: The complete vision and mission of the Indian Solar Industry and our company as well, has radically changed with enterprising efforts of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shree Narendra Modi and Shree Piyush Goel, Hon’ble Minister for Ministry of New  andRenewable Energy. The target set by them has changed the dimension of the Indian Solar Indutry.

 The target of  175GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2022 is definitely achievable . If your Government is encouraging for growth to that tune/extent, you must feel energised. In my view if Indian Solar Industry would get some basic support and a primary stage protection from outside then India is now the most potential hub for the industry. To join in the mission of our P.M., our group has set a target of 1Gw of Module manufacturing capacity by 2018-19. In broader perspective Indian Solar PV industry should go well.