REI 2024 Time- Indian Makers Move Centrestage

It’s time for another edition of REI, the 17th in fact, and perhaps a never before seen dominance of Indian firms. Starting from October 3 to end on the 5th, the show, at Greater Noida’s India Expo Centre is the premier renewables expo in India. Over the years, Informa Markets, the organisers, have added other, related themes , be it batteries, EV charging and more to the show, to make it a true reflection of India’s green pathways.

On the renewable energy front, expect India’s new cohort of solar module manufacturers to be here in full force, launching, displaying and networking like never before. Even as the industry faces the unprecedented situation of being booked out well into 2025 in many cases, the addition of upcoming capacities on both the modules and cell fronts means makers will be on their toes to lock in as many orders as they can. With the previous 6-8 months offering perhaps the longest period of stability yet moderation in prices, it has been a win-win for all in the true sense of the term. Which also explains the boom in stock market valuations, and the beeline for public listings in the sector.

Firms big and small, from Solex Energy to Orient Solar to Saatvik Solar and more have announced plans to launch their latest TOPCon panels at the show. Expect many more announcements to follow over the next three days.

Beyond modules, expect to explore the large domestic ecosystem of BOS (Balance of System) suppliers make their presence felt as well, from trackers, to structures to electricals and more.

Wind Energy will also be well represented with its large ecosystem of domestic suppliers, riding a long awaited recovery in the sector

 

On the Battery Front, the situation is perhaps even more exciting, considering the sharp drop in Lithium Ion battery costs seen in the past 12 months. In fact, many believe the inflection point of $100 kWh is not too far away, a price at which access to quality energy storage becomes a game changer in many use cases. Besides of course a possible drop in EV costs, where batteries continue to account for 30-40% of total costs.  We look forward to checking out how far the drop in costs has travelled in India, and the many possibilities opening up. Expect some exciting news on second life battery front, as the stock of batteries coming up for replacement increases in India as well, besides stricter  EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)  rules that have come into force.

Biofuels of course, along with Biogas and Compressed Bio Gas, have finally taken off in a big way, and expect a strong presence from that sector as seen in the past two years.

Finally, we look forward to tracking progress and developments in the Green Hydrogen sector, which after a lot of hype, is finally beginning to show up early indicators of progress with electrolyser manufacturers, early pilot projects and of course, ever bigger announcements.

Finally, you can look forward to the multiple industry panel discussions at the REI conference (paid), and even an investor zone to pitch your ideas.

So if you want to track everything that’s happening in India’s energy space and the move to transition to green energy, drop by at the Expo Centre today!