The transformative technologies reshaping the energy landscape were explored during the session titled “Exploring Next-Generation Technologies Driving the Clean Energy Market” on the first day of the two-day Mercom India Renewables Summit 2024, held in New Delhi.

The session featured Mehul Sharma, CEO of India Sunpure Technology, Manish Narula, Executive Vice President for South Asia at Jinko Solar, Manish Relan, AVP Sales – (Solar Modules) at Swelect Energy, and Mayank Mishra, Senior Sales Director for India at Nextracker.

Sishir Garemella, Head of International Business Development at Kiwa PVEL, moderated the session.

Sharma emphasized the critical role of robotics in addressing key challenges in the Indian subcontinent, particularly soiling losses and water resource pressure. “Traditional water cleaning methods are unsustainable in terms of cost and efficiency. Enhanced with artificial intelligence, robotics offers a solution by ensuring optimal timing and efficiency.”

He highlighted the diverse dust challenges across India’s regions, such as Rajasthan’s fine sand particles and metal oxide or sticky substances. Sunpure Technology’s approach involves sampling these particles to develop tailored cleaning strategies for each project, addressing the specific types of dust encountered.

Sharma noted that manual cleaning typically occurs twice a month in large-scale projects, resulting in soiling losses of around 2.7-3.5%. In contrast, robotic cleaning can reduce these losses to less than 0.5%. Commercial and industrial projects often experience higher soiling losses due to less frequent cleaning, sometimes up to 20%.

Mishra discussed the increasing adoption of solar trackers in India, which is driven by the need to maximize power generation and lower the levelized cost of energy. “Bifacial modules have become more efficient. The irradiance reflected from the ground boosts more generation. Depending on the terrain, energy gain can increase from 15 to 30%,” he explained.

According to Mishra, accurate data collection for wind, soil, and other environmental parameters is crucial but challenging. “This data is essential for optimizing tracker designs and ensuring their efficiency and longevity. Trackers and other technologies must be tailored to specific site conditions, such as rocky areas or varied land shapes and sizes.”

Narula addressed the benefits and challenges of larger module sizes. While they can handle more power and offer structural advantages, practical limits exist. “Modules must remain manageable to ensure one person can handle them safely. Despite robust construction—sandwiched between glass and well-laminated—modules are still vulnerable to micro-cracks from mishandling, especially during transportation and on-site installation,” he said.

Narula also pointed out that damage during installation often goes unnoticed until the project starts generating power. Initial inspections may not catch all issues; discrepancies usually emerge after the first cycle or season. Comparing arrays can highlight problems, often traced back to mishandling. “In summary, while pushing for higher efficiency and larger modules, we must ensure they remain practical for on-site handling to avoid micro-cracks and subsequent warranty claims,” he concluded.

Relan discussed how Indian manufacturers can differentiate themselves from Chinese or global players through technological advancements. He noted that Indian manufacturers are enhancing their technological capabilities to meet or exceed global standards, supported by government policies like the ALMM program, which promotes local manufacturing.

Relan also highlighted the need for substantial government investment and further policy development, such as wafer and polysilicon manufacturing programs, to strengthen the industry.

“Additionally, improving the skilling capacity in India remains a priority. Despite a growing pool of skilled engineers with solar experience, there is still a need for greater focus on developing technical skills and enhancing workforce capabilities to ensure that India can meet future demands and compete more effectively globally,” he added.