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Installing a solar system is just the first step

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Raman Bhatia, Founder and Managing Director, Servotech Power Systems, talks about innovative approaches to advancing energy efficiency in the solar sector, from embracing the ‘Make in India’ initiative to pioneering new technologies.

Can you provide an overview of Servotech Power Systems’ contributions to energy efficiency in the solar sector?
Throughout its journey with a strong motto of providing high-quality solar solutions, Servotech made noteworthy contributions towards energy efficiency in the solar sector, through innovative technologies and solutions. By developing high-efficiency solar solutions that are both sustainable and reliable, Servotech has played its part in making solar energy a household name. The company has expanded its reach across various sectors. Servotech’s residential solar solutions empower homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint and electricity bills. The company provides solar solutions for industries, helping them reduce energy costs, improve their environmental quotient and comply with sustainability regulations. Servotech caters to the commercial sector by offering rooftop and ground-mounted solar power plants helping them reduce electricity costs and enhance their brand image, Lastly, the company has been actively involved in executing solar projects for government institutions, aiding in the country’s renewable energy goals and by providing efficient and reliable solar solutions, we contribute to
the government’s efforts in promoting clean
energy adoption.

What role does the ‘Make in India’ initiative play in your strategy to promote energy efficiency and sustainable solutions?
Make in India, a wonderful initiative by our government, has definitely pushed manufacturers across all sectors, especially our sector, which is the renewable energy sector towards indigenous manufacturing. By manufacturing solar components locally, we significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and logistics. Local production often leads to cost reductions in solar products which makes solar energy more affordable for consumers, encouraging wider adoption and contributing to energy efficiency. The Make in India initiative also helps create employment opportunities in the solar sector, leading to skill development and a larger workforce dedicated to renewable energy. Domestic manufacturing reduces reliance on imports and strengthens the supply chain, ensuring uninterrupted production and reducing vulnerabilities to global disruptions.

How has Servotech adapted its solar solutions to meet the evolving energy efficiency standards?
Well, it has been more than two decades now. During this long journey, we have constantly worked on ourselves, renovated, and innovated ourselves to keep up with the evolving energy efficiency standards in terms of product development, innovation and R&D. We have consistently incorporated the latest advancements in solar technology that includes the use of higher efficiency solar cells, advanced inverters, and optimised system components. We introduced innovative solar products and solutions that meet the evolving energy efficiency standards. This involves continuous research and development to create more efficient and sustainable products. We prioritise product performance and rigorous testing and quality control measures ensure that our products meet or exceed industry benchmarks and this relentless pursuit of excellence has positioned us as a leader and has helped us in delivering efficient and sustainable
solar solutions.

Could you elaborate on the significance of the engineering and design process in achieving energy efficiency in your solar EPC projects?
The engineering and design phase in solar EPC projects lays the foundation for optimal performance. It involves a careful analysis of site conditions, including solar radiation, shading and environmental factors. By carefully selecting high-performance components and designing the system for optimal orientation and tilt, engineers maximise energy capture. Additionally, this phase focuses on minimising energy losses through efficient wiring, component placement, and system integration. A well-engineered design ensures the solar system operates at peak performance, delivering substantial energy savings and a strong return on investment.

What measures does Servotech implement during the procurement and project execution phases to ensure optimal energy efficiency in its solar power projects?
Constructing a solar system involves a lot of phases with procurement and project execution being the most important ones. During the procurement phase, we prioritise the development of high-efficiency solar modules, inverters and other components. Rigorous quality assurance processes and performance testing are conducted to verify that all components meet or exceed industry standards and are compatible with project requirements. In the project execution phase, Servotech conducts detailed site assessments to determine the optimal system orientation, tilt angle and shading analysis. Strict adherence to installation guidelines and best practices ensures proper system integration and performance. Post-installation, the system undergoes comprehensive testing to verify energy efficiency and performance. Monitoring systems are often incorporated to track performance and identify areas for improvement.

How does your operation and maintenance service contribute to maintaining and enhancing the energy efficiency of installed systems?
Installing a solar system is just the first step; operating and maintaining it properly is equally important to ensure the system runs efficiently over the long term and for that we conduct regular inspections to detect and address issues like module degradation and inverter malfunctions early, preventing energy losses. Our team ensures optimal performance through routine cleaning and maintenance, which maximises sunlight absorption and energy generation. Continuous performance monitoring using advanced data analytics allows us to optimise system settings, while preventive and corrective maintenance activities minimise downtime and equipment failures. By utilising techniques such as module-level monitoring and inverter tuning, Servotech ensures that solar systems operate at peak efficiency, delivering maximum energy output and long-term cost savings.

In your view, how important is radiation data analytics and project feasibility studies in the planning of energy-efficient solar projects?
Radiation data analytics and project feasibility studies are absolutely critical for the successful planning of energy-efficient solar projects. Accurate radiation data allows for precise predictions of energy generation, system sizing and financial returns. By analysing radiation patterns, engineers can optimise system design, including orientation and tilt angles, to maximise energy capture. Feasibility studies help identify potential risks, such as shading or grid constraints, enabling proactive solutions. These studies also assess financial viability, considering ROI, payback periods, and incentives, ensuring projects are economically sound enabling data-driven decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Looking ahead, what are the key trends and innovations in energy efficiency that Servotech Power Systems plans to focus on in the near future?
Energy efficiency is a dynamic realm with constant emergence of trends and innovations. The company recognises the value these trends and innovations will add in the growth of energy efficiency in the solar sector. Our innovative product solar powered EV charging carport integrates solar power with EV charging, which is an innovative take on how we can charge our EVs and also save energy from renewable sources. Additionally, Servotech plans to invest in enhancing the quality of bifacial solar panels to increase energy generation. We are investing in research and development of major solar developments and understand the importance of energy storage in enhancing grid stability and optimising energy utilisation and grid optimisation. In fact, we are developing an energy storage system that will accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in low electricity areas.
Exploring digitisation of energy efficiency, we are focused on developing advanced monitoring and control systems to optimise system performance, predict maintenance needs. Lastly, to meet the growing demand for clean energy, we are exploring the integration of solar power with other renewable energy sources like wind and hydro to create hybrid power systems.

– Kanika Mathur

Concrete

UltraTech to Deploy 600+ Electric Trucks by Dec 2026

Cement major expands green logistics to cut emissions across supply chain

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UltraTech Cement Limited, an Aditya Birla Group company, plans to expand its electric vehicle fleet in logistics operations to more than 600 EV trucks by December 2026, strengthening its green transport initiatives.
The company has signed service agreements with leading EV prime mover manufacturers, including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, IPLTech, Energy in Motion and Sany, along with their subsidiaries and logistics partners, for deploying electric trucks.
The expanded fleet will transport around five million MT of clinker and other key materials annually across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha. Once operational, the fleet is expected to reduce annual CO₂ emissions by over 1,17,000 tonnes and replace nearly 39 million litres of diesel consumption.
K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said the company is extending sustainability beyond its manufacturing plants by adopting greener logistics solutions and decarbonising its value chain.
UltraTech has been among the early adopters of sustainable transport in the cement sector, introducing CNG trucks in 2021 and electric trucks in 2024. The company currently operates more than 850 trucks under its green logistics programme, including CNG and electric vehicles.
With a grey cement capacity exceeding 200 MTPA in India, UltraTech is integrating electrification across its logistics network, covering mine-to-plant movement and inter-plant transportation of clinker and other materials.

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UltraTech Cement expands green logistics with 600+ electric truck fleet

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The e-truck fleet will be used to transport five million MT of clinker and other key materials with potential of over 1,17,000 tonnes of net annual CO₂ reduction, displacing the equivalent of 39 million litres of diesel per year.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited, an Aditya Birla Group company and the world’s largest cement company by sales volume and capacity outside China, has announced that it will scale up its electric vehicle fleet in its logistics operations to 600+ EV trucks by December 2026.

UltraTech has signed service contracts with leading EV prime mover manufacturers including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, IPLTech, Energy in Motion and Sany, along with their subsidiaries and other third-party logistics providers, to deploy EV trucks.

The total fleet of 600+ EV trucks will transport about five million MT of clinker and other key materials per annum across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha. Once fully operational, this fleet of over 600 EV trucks will enable a net annual CO₂ reduction of more than 1,17,000 tonnes, displacing the equivalent of 39 million litres of diesel per year.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “UltraTech is expanding sustainability beyond its plants by adopting greener logistics solutions. This large-scale transition to green logistics underscores our focus on decarbonising every link of our value chain and supports our commitment to achieving Net Zero.”

UltraTech has been a pioneer in advancing sustainable transport in the cement sector, being the first cement company to deploy heavy-duty electric trucks for long-haul transport of clinker and other materials at scale. The company was among the first in India to introduce green logistics, deploying CNG trucks in 2021 and electric trucks in 2024. UltraTech currently operates 850+ trucks as part of its green logistics operations, including CNG and electric trucks.

UltraTech, with a grey cement capacity of over 200 MTPA in India, operates one of the country’s most complex logistics networks. Its electrification strategy covers the entire supply chain—from mine-to-plant movement to inter-plant transport of clinker and other key materials.

The $ 10 billion UltraTech, the cement flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total Grey Cement capacity of 205.5 MTPA and White Cement/Putty capacity of 3.2 MTPA. It is a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the Net Zero Concrete roadmap announced by GCCA.

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Concrete

CarbonStrong Raises Rs 125 Million To Scale Low Carbon Cement Tech

To build capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year

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CarbonStrong has raised Rs 125 million (125 mn) to scale a low carbon cement technology and build commercial production capacity. The startup was founded in 2022 by Harsh Jain and Vikramaditya Singh and has moved from customer trials to plans for industrial supply. The company said its material replaces up to 50 per cent of cement in concrete while reducing costs and improving durability.

CarbonStrong states the product is around 30 per cent cheaper than cement and compatible with existing concrete plants, reducing the need for new equipment and operational disruption. Trials and paid pilots have been conducted in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai with demonstration projects involving ready-mix firms and precast manufacturers. Compatibility with current workflows forms a central part of the commercial strategy, aiming to ease adoption by builders and contractors.

The funding will support construction of a facility with capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes (100,000 t) a year over the next two years to supply early customers commercially. The firm is also developing materials from steel slag, copper slag and mine tailings to expand its feedstock base, while noting the technical challenge of homogenising different waste streams. Recognition by HCL ClimaForce in 2026 and by the Avaana-Startup India-NITI Aayog AIM Grand Challenge in 2025 has underscored progress.

Industry adoption remains the principal test and will require consistent material performance, supply reliability and competitive economics. CarbonStrong projects the Indian market for cement substitutes could reach Rs 250 billion (250 bn) by 2030 and has set an ambition to produce 10 million tonnes a year by 2035 (10 mn t), a target far above its near term capacity. Moving from pilots to production demands capital, manufacturing discipline and customers willing to specify the material beyond demonstrations. The recent Rs 125 million raise is intended to fund the next phase of scale and to demonstrate that industrial waste can become a dependable input for lower carbon construction.

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