We are Planning to Enter Into EV Charger Market in India: Brijesh Prajapati

We are also entering in the Indian market with our new and innovative EV Charger products. For this, our discussions are already going on with some reputed Indian companies about EV Charger concept. In my opinion, EV Segment and Li-ion battery products have very good scope in the Indian market.

So, we are very optimistic about EV segment business in India as a future scope, says Brijesh Prajapati, Managing Director – India, Sofarsolar, China based one of the leading solar & hybird inverter manufacturers. In conversation with Manu Tayal, Associate Editor, Saur Energy International, Prajapati shared about his company’s journey into the renewable space in India, product offerings, targets in the New Year, future expansion plans etc. Here’re the excerpts from that exclusive interview published in the Saur Energy International Magazine’s January 2020 edition:

Q. Tell our readers about Sofarsolar’s journey in the renewable space, its various business verticals? What market share you enjoy in India?

Sofarsolar is part of the Sofar Group, a highly diversified company enjoying No.1 position in the GPS business. Sofar Group has been in the communications and renewable energy fields since 2007 and then entered the photovoltaic (PV) inverter business in 2012 with the establishment of Sofarsolar.

Our specialities include research & development (R&D), production, sales and service of grid-tied inverters. In order to support the current growth of Indian PV market, we have recently taken steps to strengthen our business position in the country and have setup a new office and leadership. Also, we are confident that our new range of compact inverters will help us carve a special space for our products in India.

Q. How do you see year 2019 for Sofarsolar in terms of projects, revenue, growth etc?

We are enjoying “Top Positioning” market in Gujarat, Punjab-Haryana, Maharashtra and Chennai-Kerala. Now we are also focusing on North India and NorthEast India region.

Sofarsolar has consistently won the ‘Most Selling Inverters’ in Gujarat under GEDA (Gujarat Energy Development Agency) rooftop policy. In other states also we have built our strong installation base and service support. We are well positioned to become a major player in the commercial rooftop and utility-scale PV installations.

I would like to highlight here that Sofarsolar with largest installation secured top position in the SKY Project (KUSUM Yojana) Scheme in Gujarat, India. Sofar inverters have been installed in farms under SKY Project (Surya Kisan Yojana) initiative of the Gujarat Government at different feeders covering Gujarat region.

Q. What are the targets that you have set for the New Year? Do you believe your success is tied completely to rooftop solar growth?

Since 2016, we have supplied solar inverter systems of more than 350 MW of capacity in India through earning our customers support and trust. We have a very long vision business road map for the current and future sales growth. In 2019, our projection was to supply Sofar inverters of more than 250 MW capacity and with the Client-Business partner support we almost crossed the target.

In 2020, Sofarsolar is having a very aggressive plan with new agenda for business expansion with new and innovative products. Besides, we are also working on some up-gradation on current products. We have good installations in the rooftop market and also last year our business increased particularly in the rooftop segment. Rooftop is a very huge market in India and government is also very supportive on the rooftop subsidy policy.

Q. Shed some light on your latest product offerings for the Indian market in terms of technology?

In order to cater to the Indian Market we have established “Sofarsolar India Pvt. Ltd” and our Marketing and Service Centre is in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Our range of grid-tied inverters includes 1 KW to 6 KW in single phase and 3 KW to 70 KW in three phase, support zero export solution. We also have 3 kW power storage inverters and 3 KW to 6 KW hybrid inverters in single phase and 10 KW to 20 KW hybrid inverters in 3 phase, Li-Ion Batteries.

Q. What is your major USP among Indian customers as compared to the close peers? How do you market your products in India?

We are among the top 3 on-grid solar inverter sellers in India for the residential market with a proven record in the rooftop solar segment. Sofar is also among the top 5 String inverter manufacturers in China and specialized in the ongrid string inverters since 2012, with a wide range from 1 KW to 70 KW. Also we are among the leading storage solution providers in India, including AC retrofitting storage inverter and hybrid inverter.

Till now Sofar has secured many Certifications – IEC 61727 / 62116 / 61683 / 60068 / 62109 /61000 /60255/ IP65 / EN 50530. Our BIS Certification is also under process.

Q. With the expected boom in the electric vehicles market in India in coming years, do you see an opportunity for Sofarsolar here?

Sofar Group has multiple businesses in China and we are a continuously growing company. We have variety of products in our basket including New Energy Automobile (Supercharger). It’s a new innovation and revolution for coming years in the Indian market. It’s a green energy concept and already welcomed by Indian government and users. In 2020, we are also entering in the Indian market with our new and innovative EV Charger products.

For this, our discussions are already going on with some reputed Indian companies about EV Charger concept. In my opinion, EV Segment and Li-ion battery products have very good scope in the Indian market. So, we are very optimistic about EV segment business in India as a future scope.