Furnace manufacturing involves energy-intensive operations, making electricity costs a significant component of operating expenses. Rising power tariffs have prompted manufacturers to explore rooftop solar installations to reduce their dependence on grid electricity and improve long-term cost predictability.

West Bengal-based furnace manufacturer Melt O Therm Furnaces decided to adopt solar power to address rising electricity costs associated with its operations.

It installed a 250 kW rooftop solar system at its facility in Rautara, North 24 Parganas, to reduce electricity expenses and support sustainable manufacturing.

The solar system, installed by Fender Energy (Fender Vertex Solutions), is expected to generate annual electricity bill savings of approximately ₹1.8 million (~$18,800), with an estimated payback period of three years.

Before installing the rooftop solar system, the company’s average monthly electricity consumption was approximately148.68 MWh , equivalent to 1.78 million units annually.

The 250 kW rooftop solar system uses 550 W monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear contact (Mono PERC) modules manufactured by Anchor by Panasonic.

The installation is equipped with two 100 kW Solis string inverters and an aluminium mini-rail, non-penetrative mounting structure.

According to the installer, the project did not encounter any major installation challenges. However, the presence of aluminium dust particles at the facility required additional consideration during system planning.

To address potential dust accumulation on the solar modules, the installer incorporated provisions for regular cleaning and maintenance to maintain system performance and minimize generation losses.

Fender Energy had earlier installed a 509 kW rooftop solar system for leather products manufacturer Maple Accessories in West Bengal, with estimated annual electricity savings of ₹4.62 million.

The company also executed a 200 kW rooftop solar project for Bengal Pipe in Howrah and a 250 kW installation for cold storage operator Radharani Himghar in Bankura.

Mercom India hosts a multi-city Clean Energy Meet series to bring renewable energy developers, vendors, and C&I energy consumers to the same platform, helping them share insights on rooftop solar, open access, and other modes of clean energy procurement. The next event in the series will be held in Pune, Maharashtra, in November 2026.