Advancing India’s Solar Growth With Innovation And Strategic Action – Sanjay Patel, MD, Tembo Global Industries

How does Tembo Global Solar align its business strategy with India’s clean energy targets and the government’s Net Zero vision for 2070?

At Tembo Global Solar, our strategy is closely aligned with India’s ambitious goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, including around 280 GW from solar, as part of the broader vision to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070. We have actively participated in government-led initiatives such as the PM-KUSUM scheme, and our recent acquisition of a 120 MW solar power purchase agreement worth ₹595 crore in Maharashtra reflects our commitment to scalable and sustainable solar deployment. We are actively analysing all the government tenders, and are in the process of participating in the latest MH BESS tender by MSEDCL, which will fortify our commitment to a greener future and reduce dependency on non-renewable sources of energy. By integrating solar PV with battery storage, we are not only enhancing grid reliability but also reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Our market-driven approach allows us to leverage policy incentives while delivering cost-efficient, EPC-led solar and storage solutions that support India’s clean energy transition and long-term decarbonisation goals.

·        With your end-to-end EPC capabilities and focus on quality engineering, how do you differentiate your offerings in India’s competitive solar market?

In India’s rapidly evolving solar market, differentiation hinges on execution efficiency, engineering depth, and long-term value delivery. At Tembo Global Solar, our end-to-end EPC capabilities allow us to offer integrated, design-optimized solutions tailored to India’s diverse grid and terrain challenges.

We bring a manufacturing-backed approach to EPC, ensuring quality control, faster project turnaround, and scalability, especially for government-led schemes like PM-KUSUM and utility-scale solar parks. The market increasingly values partners who can balance technical precision with cost efficiency, and that’s where our experience in structural engineering and procurement gives us an edge. As competition intensifies, we see growing demand for EPC players who not only build but also enhance project bankability, sustainability, and grid-readiness areas we consistently focus on.

·        What key trends are you observing in the solar market across residential, commercial, and industrial segments, and how is Tembo addressing these evolving demands?

In India’s solar market, we are observing three prominent trends across segments. The residential rooftop sector is witnessing rapid growth, accounting for nearly 78% of new capacity additions in Q1 2025, driven by subsidies, net-metering benefits, and the desire for energy independence. In the commercial segment, high grid tariffs and increasing sustainability mandates are pushing businesses toward clean energy adoption. Meanwhile, industrial users, especially MSMEs, are investing in rooftop solar to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. Additionally, solar-plus-storage solutions are gaining traction across all segments, ensuring greater reliability and better time-of-day power management. At Tembo, we are addressing these evolving demands by offering segment-specific solar packages, including Capex and Opex rooftop models, MSME-optimised C&I systems, and hybrid solar-storage solutions that deliver long-term value and energy resilience.

·        How have recent government policies and subsidies influenced project development, and what opportunities do you foresee under current and upcoming solar initiatives?

Government policies have been instrumental in accelerating solar project development across India. Initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM have made solar adoption more viable through direct subsidies, interest subventions, and favourable tax structures. Budget 2025 further reinforced this momentum with incentives for domestic manufacturing and storage integration. The recent removal of central pricing pools has streamlined PPA processes, enhancing speed and transparency in solar project execution. As India prepares for its next phase of energy transition, emerging opportunities lie in grid-connected storage, green hydrogen-ready infrastructure, and cross-border hybrid grids under ISA frameworks. The market is particularly ripe for C&I open-access models, agrivoltaic systems, and bundled solar-plus-storage parks, each offering sustainable, scalable returns aligned with the country’s long-term Net Zero ambitions.

·        As India moves towards advanced solar technologies like smart inverters and storage solutions, how is Tembo Global Solar preparing for the next phase of innovation and adoption?

In India’s rapidly evolving solar market, there is a clear shift toward smart inverter technology and hybrid solar-plus-storage systems. Smart inverters equipped with IoT-enabled monitoring, AI-based diagnostics, and grid-forming capabilities are increasingly becoming standard across residential, commercial, and industrial projects. This transition is being driven by government efficiency mandates and the growing demand for energy reliability. At Tembo Global Solar, we are proactively embracing these technologies by partnering with leading inverter OEMs to integrate smart string and hybrid models into our offerings. We are also developing packaged solutions that include built-in energy storage and remote performance analytics, enabling predictive maintenance and operational resilience. These innovations are designed to provide our customers with improved uptime, regulatory compliance, and a more optimized cost of energy as India moves into the next phase of solar adoption.