CleanMax Solar Secures Rs 275 Cr Investment From UK Climate Investment

Mumbai-based solar power developer CleanMax Solar has raised Rs 275 crore in equity funding from UK Climate Investments (UKCI).

UKCI will underpin the development of a nationwide network of solar farms following the agreement to invest £30 million in one of India’s leading providers of renewable energy for commercial and industrial clients, CleanMax Solar.

Founded in Mumbai in 2011, CleanMax pioneered the ‘Energy Sale’ model in India through the development of distributed generation capacity across some the country’s largest cities. Partnering with commercial and industrial (C&I) clients to build new rooftop and ground-mounted solar generation projects, CleanMax Solar enables businesses to access clean, cheaper-than-grid electricity by removing the need for significant upfront capital investment.

CleanMax Solar’s innovative business model has seen it quickly grow to become one of India’s top rooftop installer in 2018 and one of the country’s largest solar developers in the C&I market segment – operating 500 MW of distributed generation capacity across 340 sites.

Kuldeep Jain, Founder and Managing Director of CleanMax Solar, said, “Corporates are quickly adopting renewables sourcing at scale to achieve the twin benefits of profit improvement and carbon footprint reduction. This investment, along with the know-how of Macquarie will enable CleanMax to continue being the market leader in B2B solar sector. We are excited with our aim to enhance our portfolio from 500 MW to 2000 MW in the next 3 years.”

UKCI’s commitment will assist CleanMax Solar as it looks to scale its operations, providing it with the capital needed to expand its network of private solar farms across the country.

Richard Abel, Managing Director of UKCI, said, “CleanMax Solar is helping businesses in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies rethink how they produce and consume electricity. Our partnership represents an exciting opportunity to help take their platform to the next level – underpinning investment in new renewable generation capacity whilst accelerating India’s transition to a low-carbon future.”

UKCI’s investment in CleanMax Solar represents its fourth commitment to assist the world’s developing economies tackle climate change and promote cleaner, greener growth. Earlier this year, UKCI announced a £28 million cornerstone investment in a dedicated African renewable energy yieldco, Revego Africa Energy Limited.