Hyderabad-based yarn and denim manufacturer Suryalakshmi Cotton Mills has made a strategic switch to solar, enabling it to meet 100% of its daytime power needs through a 5.5 MW captive solar project.

The solar installation comprises a 3 MW ground-mount system and a 2.5 MW rooftop system. The cumulative 5.5 MW project was installed in phases.

As a process industry operating 24/7, power expenses account for a major portion of Suryalakshmi’s operational costs. With rising operational and grid tariffs, the company chose to integrate renewable energy into its power procurement strategy.

By using solar power, the company says it has reduced 25% of its dependence on grid power, resulting in equivalent savings.

Suryalakshmi added the 2.5 MW rooftop system after experience the success of its 3 MW ground-mount installation. It decided to use the rooftop space to install the behind-the-meter system.

Candi Solar set up the rooftop system in February this year.

The 3 MW ground mount system utilizes Znshine’s Mono PERC modules, and the 2.5 MW rooftop system utilizes Longi’s 540 Wp Mono PERC and Waaree’s 545 Wp bifacial modules.

The solar project cumulatively generates around 21,000 units per day and around 65,000 units per month.

Apart from the captive on-site installations, Suryalaksmhi has also signed a power purchase agreement for 500 kW with Gentari.

Following the success of these installations, the company plans to install solar panels at its Nagpur factory.

Installing on the rooftop can be challenging owing to its uneven surfaces. Candi Solar noted that the rooftop’s nearly 20-degree slope posed a significant challenge for project execution. It added that integrating Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and deploying zero power export across all solar projects also required careful execution.

Mercom India has been hosting a series of events as part of it C&I Clean Energy Meets across various cities. These events bring renewable energy developers, installers, lending institutions and industry experts on the same platform, helping attendees gain valuable insights into renewable energy sourcing. The next C&I Clean Energy Meet is scheduled for November 14, 2025, in Bhubaneswar.