The very first Solar Today Awards 2016 was successfully held at the InterSolar Exhibition in Mumbai on October 21, 2016, in the presence of the industry’s best and brightest.

The Solar Today Awards 2016 function began with the lighting of the lamp by G Adhiseshu, Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Ltd; Pratap Padode, Managing Director, ASAPP Info Global Group and Sumit Banerjee, Chairman, Advisory Board, ASAPP Info Global Group.

This was followed up with an introductory address by Padode, wherein he spoke about the business climate in the country and how despite tough times – financially and otherwise – India Inc is now moving forward in the solar sector. He stated confidence in businesses geared towards sustainability, solar energy and energy storage, which can be the game changers that the country needs.

After the address, an expert panel comprising Prafulla Pathak, Secretary General, Solar Energy Society of India; Preetam D’Souza, Partner, Kochhar & Co; Shirish S Garud, Director and Senior Fellow, TERI and Santosh Janakiram, Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and moderated by Vinay Rustagi, Managing Director, Bridge to India, discussed ‘Competitive bidding for solar projects in India’.

While coming to a general consensus that competition in the solar field has drastically brought down solar costs, thus making it more financially competitive, they further felt that viability of such projects is now under question and the structure essentially eliminates smaller players from venturing anywhere near the sector.

The main event on the itinerary for the evening – the awards ceremony – was conducted next. Parameters for the basis of selection for companies were considerations on their grid-connected projects above 1 MW, AC capacity numbers where available and capacity commissioned in the last 12 months.

For the first six awards – Utility Scale Solar (Project Developer and EPC Contractor); Rooftop Solar (Project Developer and EPC Contractor); Module Manufacturer and Inverter Manufacturer – winners were decided purely based on the size or capacity. The decision of the top three players has been adjudged on the basis of data collected by Bridge to India.

The latter four awards – Top Manufacturer in India – Quality and Cost Competitiveness; Best Innovation in the Sector; Best Start-up in the Sector and Emerging State – were selected by the Jury, based on discussions conducted and the nominations received. Here, for the Jury’s Choice Award for Manufacturer in India (Composite) – Quality and Competitiveness, the factors considered were strong reputation for quality, ability to compete internationally and whether the company is amongst the Top 10 players in the country, by virtue of size and volume.

The winners of the 1st inaugural Solar Today Awards 2016:

• Utility Scale Solar- Project Developer – Adani Green Energy Ltd (Largest)
• Utility Scale Solar- Project Developer – Acme (Second Largest)
• Utility Scale Solar – EPC contractor: Mahindra Susten Pvt Ltd (Largest)
• Utility Scale Solar – EPC contractor: Sterling and Wilson Pvt Ltd (Second Largest)
• Utility Scale Solar – EPC contractor: L&T (Third Largest)
• Rooftop Solar – Project Developer: CleanMax Solar (Largest)
• Rooftop Solar – Project Developer: Amplus Energy Solutions Pvt Ltd (Second Largest)
• Rooftop Solar – EPC: Tata Power Solar System Ltd (Largest)
• Rooftop Solar – EPC: Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd (Second Largest)
• Rooftop Solar – EPC: Hero Future Energies Ltd (Third Largest)
• Top Manufacturer (Module): Vikram Solar Pvt Ltd
• Top Manufacturer (Inverter): ABB India Ltd
• Jury’s Choice Award for Best Manufacturer in India (Composite): Vikram Solar Pvt Ltd
• Jury’s Choice Award for Best Innovation in the solar sector: Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd
• Jury’s Choice Award for Best Start-up in the solar sector: OMC Power
• Emerging State in the solar sector: Andhra Pradesh

The ceremony ended on a high note with a keynote address by Adhiseshu, who spoke on the importance of solar and how the Andhra Pradesh government is augmenting its plan to add 4,107 MW of solar power capacity during FY17 to FY22 and has set a target of achieving 2,000 MW of solar rooftop by 2022. He extorted the segment players present at the event to take advantage of this and move forwards confidently.