Solar Thermal Federation of India (STFI) the world’s first and only industry body of solar thermal manufacturers launched on 4th June 2010 completes a successful decade. It was formed with the objective of improving interface with the Government agencies on policies and legislations, creating product standards, collecting and maintaining industry data and penetration by way of Market development and awareness programmes. Their members nearly control 85% of the market.
During the last ten years India has achieved a remarkable solar thermal business and maintained its position amongst the top five countries globally with cumulative installations of over 16 million m2 saving over 10,000 GWh of electricity and abated so far nearly 8 million tons of CO2. In 2019 it became the third largest market after China and Turkey in solar water heaters with a remarkable 1.52 million m2 without any incentives. In the industrial heating segment, it is the only country to have successfully demonstrated the use of solar thermal in multiple industry segments and is now the role model to the world.
Some of the important milestones that STFI achieved during the decade were preparing roadmap of solar thermal in India until 2022, initiating and operating National solar energy tollfree Helpline, launching of India’s only solar thermal newsletter, combating industry related issues on taxes and subsidies, accelerating industrial process heating programme, assisting Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in developing product standards, initiating quality standards to protect consumer interest, creating knowledge documents and developing specific websites for water heating and industrial process heating.
On the occasion Hon’ble Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, government of India Shri Raj Kumar Singh has conveyed his greetings (refer attachment).
Chairman – STFI Surendrakumar said “the united voice has been the reason for successful completion of our 10 years and our solar thermal industry will play crucial role to contribute achieve the climate change goals” Former Chairman Mangal Akole said ” as a national apex solar thermal industry body it has been successfully implementing government of India schemes and maintaining close co- ordination between policy makers, industry and the consumers.”
Jaideep Malaviya founder of the organisation and serving as Secretary General since then said ” it was a challenge thrown open to me and I delivered my best to showcase the intensity of solar thermal and will continue to do so”.
