Category Archives: Renewable Energy

In a developing country whose economy is centred around agriculture, and which is rapidly transitioning into the realm of renewable energy, the future of solar pumps seems brighter than ever.

This is testified by the increased impetus given by the Government of India to the widespread deployment of solar pumps- in the Budget 2018, there has been a budget allocation of Rs 48,000 crore for distributing 17.5 lakh solar pumps, and solarizing existing pumps, as part of the ‘Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (Kusum)’ scheme. The scheme has additional objectives of setting up 10,000 MW solar plants on barren lands, besides allowing farmers to sell the surplus produced energy to state electricity. This move is a welcome step towards ensuring the financial stability of farmers, and at the same time, bolsters the government’s ambitions of integrating a vast share of renewable energy in the overall energy mix.

The potential for solar water pumps

India is blessed with an abundance of solar energy and has a massive potential to transform this into electricity- the National Institute of Solar Energy in India has determined this amount to be a whopping 750 GW. Equally massive is the presence of agriculture in the Indian economy- it employs nearly 50% of the workforce, and contributes 17.32% to India’s GDP. Thus, an intensive economic practice like this needs reliable practices that can ensure a high yield of agricultural crops, such as efficient irrigation techniques. Water pumps have emerged as a dependable mode of irrigation, and the advent of renewable energy has ensured the rapid advancement of solar water pumps. At the fore of this breakthrough is The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which has collaborated with various state governments and started promoting solar water pumps by providing various subsidies to farmers.

The majority of pumps used today are either grid-connected or run on diesel. However, remote, off-grid areas, the rising prices of diesel, as well as the environmental implications of its usage, raise several questions over the efficacy of these traditionally-powered pumps. Our nation’s economic well-being hinges on that of the rural economy, which in turn depends on agriculture, rather cost-effective agriculture. Thus, innovative solutions and ideas are the need of the hour to revamp this sector. Solar pumps can be heralded as a solution that the rural agrarian society needs- they can be used in power deficient and remote regions, and reduce diesel consumption, both necessary steps to ensure sustainability as well as a clean environment. Besides, they provide farmers with an opportunity to generate extra income by selling surplus energy. In a nutshell, solar water pumps have immense economic, societal, and environmental advantages.

Solar Energy in India: Current Scenario

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has set an ambitious target of producing 175 GW of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2022, during the recently held International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The recent news of Diu becoming the first 100% solar powered Union Territory further cements the government’s conviction towards this great cause. This enormous increase in installed solar capacity would entail a proportionate increase in jobs related to solar energy. Indeed, achieving these renewable energy goals would be a step closer towards realizing an energy-secure and sustainable future.

The Road Ahead

The government’s ambitious target to initiate wide-spread usage of solar pumps is a positive indication of the growth of the solar pump industry, which is likely to flourish in the coming years and aid in accelerating the sustainable development of our country. The immediate challenge facing the mass implementation of solar pumps is its high upfront cost, but taking into account the long-term benefits they provide, this challenge could soon be converted into a successful opportunity. Perhaps, that day isn’t far away when a solar pump in a farm is as ubiquitous as a tractor ploughing on a field!

Written By: Vinita Srinivasan

Edited By: Priyanka Pandey

In recognition of Claro’s significant contribution to the renewable energy sector and the innovative leadership of its founders, Amity Business School has conferred upon Claro’s founder and director, Mr Kartik Wahi, the “Amity Leadership Award for Excellence in the Energy Industry”.

The award recipients are chosen by identifying successful businesses and services to acknowledge the achievements of the individual and organization in the realms of leadership, enterprise, innovation, strategy, CSR and business performance in creating value for stakeholders and nation. This is also an initiative to honour all those who have set examples for others to follow.

This prestigious award further bolsters Claro’s conviction towards creating sustainable agriculture solutions. We believe it will add more momentum to our expansion in the solar energy market and pave the way to becoming leaders in this field.

What is a Solar rooftop?

Solar rooftop are solar panels placed on top of roofs of commercial, institutional or residential buildings. They capture the light energy emitted by the sun and convert it into electrical energy. This setup is also known as solar rooftop photo-voltaic system. It produces a clean, Eco friendly form of energy, meaning that it’s which does not produce any type of pollution or harmful gases.

Solar market all over the globe is on a verge to make our mother earth a healthy and secure place to live. A solar rooftop panel only requires space and abundance amount of sunlight for efficient working, and on some days when the sun is on low spirits, batteries stored in the panels will work as a savior.

Employment generation

The manufacture of solar panels and ancillary components is labor intensive, requires moderately skilled labor. Even setting up solar rooftop systems requires labor power, both directly and indirectly. Post installation, technicians are involved in ensuring timely service and maintenance of these solar rooftops, though this number is fairly low as solar electricity systems are mostly hassle free. According to a report submitted by Bridge to India, job creation in the installation of solar rooftops will be the highest. Manufacturing, designing, business development, administration,design and drawing,project development,accounts are many other job opportunities that spring up with the solar industry.

Various Appliances Powered by Solar Rooftops

Household appliances – Television, thermostat, dryer, fan, radio, refrigerators

Smaller daily use items – Flashlights, wearable like smartwatches and fitness bands, power banks, music speakers

Infrastructural – Street lights, Fans in warehouses etc

Environmental Effects

Solar rooftops need only the light of the sun to generate electricity, making it a cleaner source of energy than most other usual forms. Its renewable nature promises sustainability. No health hazards are involved and no pollutants are emitted by solar rooftops. No extra land is required to set up rooftops. With widespread usage, solar rooftops can help in minimizing global warming.

Economic Impact of Solar Rooftops

Solar rooftops are very cost effective. They are one-time investments which continue to serve both nature and the society for a much longer time. In the long run, they turn out to be less expensive as compared to diesel generators or even grid electricity. People who switch to solar energy experience a huge cut in electricity bills, hence saving a lot of money.

Solar Rooftops in Residential Areas

Solar rooftops are now being increasingly used for residential areas – both large complexes as well as medium to large-scale private housing e.g. About 280 households in Gandhinagar were fitted with solar panels last year. Resale value of a house will also increase if it comes with an installed solar rooftop system. The money spent on terrifying electricity bills will be cut short and the money saved can help a family invest in a better lifestyle.

Social Implications of Solar Rooftops

Setting up solar rooftops is also philanthropic in nature. It not only serves the environment but serves society as a whole. There are schools and colleges in various small districts of the nation where the supply of electricity is improper, this poses a threat to education of the pupils, also because of lack of power the students in villages cannot take up digital education, especially during the night they are not able to study because of darkness.All these problems could be overcome by adopting solar techniques. The hospitals will not face any obstacle in treating their patients because of lack of power. The use of cleaner energy will also increase the life expectancy rate among people.

India has become a leading nation in solar energy. In its Budget 2015 India announced a target of adding 175 GW of renewable energy, including 100 GW of solar power, by 2022. A subsidy of 30% for setting up solar rooftops has been given to general category states and 70 % to special category states.

Solar rooftops have an expected life of 25 years which make them worth the investment.

Written By: Priyanka Pandey

For a profit-making organization, Customer Service means ensuring that all its customers are satisfied with the product or service that he/she bought from them. Any firm which ignores Customer Service post sales, stands to have its patrons/customers lose trust in the enterprise, and perhaps move on to a competitor. Word of mouth on frequent incidents like this frames an unreliable image of the company in the market.

The Indian solar water pump industry is barely mature and the concept of customer support in this industry is neither very evolved nor well developed in terms of providing support post installation. Solar pumps are popular mostly in rural areas and in agricultural belts. They help Indian farmers combat their dependence on petrol and diesel for running pumps. Using these fossil fuels is a relatively expensive and demand a lot of maintenance. In order to combat this problem, the solar pumping industry is working towards setting up solar pumping system across the nation. But what happens once the installation process is complete?

Customer service in solar pumping industry, currently

The lifespan of a solar pump is, in most cases, of 25 years and the warranty provided by the manufacturing company is approximately of 5 years. During and after the warranty it is the responsibility of the service provider to ensure that the consumer is given full assistance in case of any damage or technical defect. However, in many cases, the solar pump is installed in the most remote areas, where transportation problems prevail. In such situations providing technical help is problematic and the time taken for servicing ranges from 15 to 20 days, which is long enough to hinder the operations of the farmer, who uses the solar setup. Most service executives in the solar industry possess an indifferent and inattentive approach towards the consumer problem and don’t deal with them in an effective manner, thinking that their job is completed once the installation is done and the payment is received. These issues take place a lot in any organisation where there is lack of commitment towards the customer, and poor teamwork among employees. Another big obstacle is that most of the communication between the consumer and the agent is done online or over phone, but due to poor cellular network and lack of literacy among farmers, the communication holds inadequate or incorrect information.

Why is customer service important?

Customer service is the most important part of any venture, not just the solar industry. Without providing this service efficiently the business is not likely to succeed. Below are some points which show how essential providing full assistance after the purchase is mandatory for a successful business:

Without ensuring effective customer service the consumer will lose their trust in the organisation and will not return to them for future purchases
The brand image of the enterprise will be hit and this could be detrimental for its reputation in the market
In the internet era every person can post reviews, both negative and positive, for a particular product or service. This could mean the opportunity to gain more orders, also losing potential ones in case the review is negative
Recommendation is significant for the flourishing of any organisation. If the consumer experiences dissatisfaction, they will not recommend the product or service anywhere.

We at Claro energy try to provide full customer support to the people we sell our panels and pumps to. Even in the remotest of areas where transportation facility is not very developed we take the pains to solve every defect faced by the consumer. We provide assistance within a maximum of 72 hours after the complaint has been filed and irrespective of the area. Ours is often regarded as the best customer service in solar industry sector.

Mr Praveen Tiwari the head of customer service department shares with us his views on the importance of customer service in the industry and how we are continuously working towards achieving this goal.

“Customer care is the most difficult phase for any company and if we don’t carry it out efficiently the consumers will lose their interest in the respective enterprises. We at CLARO try to provide service as well as we can, and help other ventures as well who are unable to provide service to their customers on time. No other company in the solar market offers such a service timeline of 72 hours irrespective of the area. Our vision is to provide the best service even after 5 years of purchase, when the company has been fully equipped to solve all service woes. We aim to frame the best image of us in the market by strengthening our services vertical.”

We at CLARO Energy are happy to serve you!

Education forms the basis of everything in today’s world including environment. Environmental Education imparts knowledge about the current situation and future prospects of nature. It teaches people to explore all the problems related to environment, and engage in wise ways of preserving it.

A number of schools have taken the initiative to provide practical as well as theoretical knowledge about the impact of human activities on Nature. They take students out of the four walls of a classroom and make them do activities like gardening, watering plants, meditation in community parks etc. Education is the only way to make the best minds work productively.

In this era, the natural world is under threat. Different species of Flora and Fauna are on the verge of extinction, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat – everything is polluted or has contaminants. By including Environmental studies as a subject in schools, as well as in higher education, we can make coming generations more sensitized and encourage them to find innovative solutions and methods for the way ahead, in order to protect nature.

Here are 5 reasons why there is a need that the learning years should be integrated with environmental education.

Awareness

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In order to take any step towards protecting our environment surroundings, we need awareness, which can come only from studying subjects related to our ecosystems. What are the issues the world is facing today? What are the components which constitute the universe? What are the different species of plants and animals? How can we ensure their long term survival? What is sustainability and how can it be achieved?

All these questions will be answered only if we learn about the environment and apply that knowledge practically.

Sustainability

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Making sure that the needs of future generation are met by the earth’s resources, would a Sustainable form of consumption of those resources today. At the current rate of consumption, Natural resources will be depleted far too fast for future generations to survive. Our irresponsible usage of these resources will leave our future generations to bear with the consequences of this exploitation. Environmental education help people understand the repercussions caused by over exploitation, and act accordingly

Health Benefits

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Both physical and mental health get affected with a depletion of the environment. These can instead flourish if we come more in contact with Nature.

One of the best benefits of this type of education is that it takes place outside the confines of a classroom. Students, who would not have otherwise spent this time outdoors, experience serenity and the healing powers of nature. In fact, treatment through natural means is called Eco-therapy. It helps patients recover from depression, cures heart ailments, maintains Blood Pressure, sleep longevity, improves eyesight etc. It’s a no hidden fact that a person who remains closest to nature is likely to stay healthier.

Artistic Imagination

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Places with natural surroundings are best for artists to create their masterpieces. Poetry, painting, sculptures etc are all products of imagination, inspired by nature quote from the cult film Dead Poets Society says

“ Medicine, law, engineering, these are the noble pursuits, necessary to sustain life but poetry, romance, love, beauty, these are what we stay alive for”.

Such creative work, more often than not, are the products of nature. Environmental education can make people recognize the hidden artist within them.

Raises Awareness about Environmental Threats

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It can encourage today’s generation to switch to safer and better choices. One would know the rescue drills for natural calamities better, how to use your greens better (they can do what no medicine can) etc. Environmental Education is one subject that warns you against everything which may go wrong.

Renewable sources of Energy: Environmental education makes people understand the importance of renewable energy. Non renewable sources of energy like petrol, diesel etc are the major sources of the world’s pollution. Using renewable sources like solar energy, wind energy etc is encouraged Environment Education, and is imperative in our fight against global warming.

There are various projects being taken by Governments and organisations for enhancing Ecological education throughout the world. The Indian government has established The Environmental Education, awareness and training program with an objective of spreading this in remote areas of the country as well as other developed parts. The National Environmental education act 1990 requires to provide national leadership to increase environmental literacy. It also established the office of environmental program to implement this. CPR environmental education center was set up by the ministry of environment of India to increase environmental consciousness.

Environmental consciousness is being spread through cinema and digital media as well. Al Gore’s documentaries and Amitav Ghosh’s books have been revelations, as have been Leonardo Di Caprio’s efforts. Social Media campaigns daily publish more and more information on environmental conservation.

All such initiatives will help making world a better place to live.

Apart from these the students who study environment will further educate people about the importance of nature. They will make people aware about the traditional and technical ways of protecting the planet.

Claro Energy has a clear purpose in mind i.e to help companies recognize the importance of having sustainable energy sources to power their activities. Not only is this more economically viable, it goes a long way in fighting global warming. Organizations can now meet their energy needs in a clean, green and smart way. Moving ahead with this vision, Claro Energy recently installed solar rooftop systems at the office of Hemant Engineers, in Anand district, Gujarat.

Project Overview

Hemant Engineers are based in Vitthal Udyog Nagar, an industrial zone in Anand. Their operations, though, are spread across the whole country as well as overseas. Hemant Engineers, promoted by Mr. Hemant Kashikar in 1981, fresh out of college, has made its name in the field of Roller Mills, Conveying systems, Air Pollution control systems and particle sizing systems, with applications in processing minerals like Bauxite, Bentonite, Coke, Coal, Dolomite, Marble, Phosphates, Soapstones etc.

The installed project system size is 16 KW, capable of generating 20,000 kWh of energy. Modules used were of the Waaree make (320 Kwp-50 Nos) and Inverter used was a Fronious Symo with 15 KW of capacity.

Challenges & Solution

The major challenge faced was in getting the modules onto the roof. The labourers had to be extra cautious while hauling the modules up as any error would end up damaging the modules. However, under the able supervision of Mr. Raghawendra Pathak, (one of Claro’s most hardworking team members) they were able to get all the 50 modules up on the roof and the entire installation was completed within 2 days.

Impact

Hemant Engineers, through this rooftop installation, now has access to a 16KW power plant that provides reliable, green and sustainable energy. The rooftop solar power plant will produce about 20,000 Kwh of electricity translating into a financial gain of Rs. 1.4 Lacs annually. This solar plant has added renewable energy to Hemant Engineer’s energy mix and will cut down about 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.

This project demonstrates the potential of solar power,which can be harnessed using idle rooftop space to generate energy and reduce an organization’s carbon footprint.

We would really like to thank Mr. Hemant Kashikar for realizing the importance of clean energy and making a switch towards sustainable development. We are also grateful to Mr. Amit Magnani from Lucidus Energy for helping in executing the installation of the project seamlessly.

Get in touch with us to deploy Rooftop Solar solutions for you. Get a 30% subsidy by contacting us NOW!

Contact Mr. Amit Magnani on +91-8160754324

Email: rooftop@13.233.214.20

Pavagada is a small town in Tumkur district of karnataka, where a 2000 MW capacity solar park is being set up. The project is currently under development and is expected to be completed by 2018. The park is said to be the world’s largest solar park, occupying 12000 acres of land space. The project was commissioned in June 2017 and is one of the most significant projects in the state’s history. Karnataka has become a role model for rest of the Indian states by incorporating massive development in the solar energy, which not only combats pollution but also develops the region entirely.

Pavagada was chosen as the site for this remarkable project because it is located 180 km from Bengaluru and is attached to the border of Andhra pradesh. It is blessed with abundant sunshine during most parts of the year – the sole need for setting up any photovoltaic system. Pavagada is one of the most backward areas of Karnataka and it has been declared drought hit more than 50 times in last seven decades. Water scarcity has resulted in withering away many crops every year, resulting in poor earnings for the farmers. Establishing a solar park here will result in solving many of problems of this region. Even employment opportunities will increase and it will promote better farming facilities in the region. The solar park could yet generate 4000 jobs for the local youth.

A live report from Mint states that “ the aim of the government is to generate around 2700 MW from Pavagada solar park by the end of 2018”.

The first phase will be ready by December 2017, which will generate 600MW. This project is jointly ventured by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd and Solar Energy Corporation of India.

The Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Ltd was formed to keep a check on the functioning of this project. The park is also sponsored and co developed by MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) and the state government. The project will boost the creation of many small scale industries, hotels, real estate and many more. After its completion, the park will be one of the largest solar parks of the world.

India is on the verge of becoming one of the largest solar markets and to make this dream come true, every state of the country will have to take measures. Many such programmes are already established like Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan, Kamuthi solar power project in Tamil Nadu, Charanka solar park in Gujarat, Sakri solar park in Maharashtra, Welspun solar project in Madhya Pradesh, Dhirubhai Ambani solar park in Rajasthan. Apart from these, upcoming large scale solar collaborations are the 750 MW solar power plant in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh, Kurnool ultra solar power plant, Ananthapuram ultra Mega solar park. All these ventures are helping to establish the country as a world leader in solar power.

India plays an important role in the Earth’s ongoing fight against global warming. She is among a group of developing nations that seek to move away from conventional, polluting coal energy toward clean but less established sources of renewable energy. India, is the world’s 4th largest carbon emitter (after China, the U.S. and the EU) at present, and is one of the countries to have signed on the Paris Climate Agreement (2016).

But despite being a major polluter, or perhaps because it realizes the significance of being one, India is on track today to meet and even exceed the ambitious climate goals set at Paris. In the last two years India has made tremendous progress in shifting away from coal and toward renewables, fueled by ambitious goal-setting and supportive government policies. What’s crucial now is developing the financial infrastructure to fund small-scale projects and newer technologies to ensure that clean, renewable power reaches India’s rural areas.

In the week where we celebrated the nation’s 70th Independence Day, we bring you 5 reasons to admire India or feel proud (if you are an Indian) when it comes to the subject of renewable energy.

Rapid Installations

India has added 9 GW of solar power in the past two years, for a total of 12 GW of total solar power capacity. The country has abundant solar power potential. With the objective of emerging as the country with the largest solar power capacity, the various enterprises of India are aiming towards doubling the the previously mentioned figures. The country, by achieving this goal, can enter the league of nations that currently include China, the USA, Japan, in terms of solar power generation capacity.

Huge increase in Solar Capacity

India’s solar generation capacity has expanded by about 370 % in the past three years. According to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, another 37 GW will be added by 2020. India is also expected to expand the growth of its solar market by 90 % this year. The central government has also announced many incentives which will help in completing existing solar projects. However, in order to make the most of solar power, Indian citizens must be educated about the advantages and usage of solar energy.

Breaking the hegemony of Coal

Coal has been India’s fossil fuel of choice for generating electrical energy. Coal has ruled the Indian energy sector, for hundreds of years now. The need for a better, greener alternative was never more necessary. Emissions from coal burning deteriorates the quality of air and forms the cause of various ailments – this has become a major mitigating factor in the usage of coal.

The growth of the solar sector and the resonance of clean energy have started chipping away at the dominance of coal. Many Indian states have scrapped their plans to build new coal fired plants and declared a cancellation of various coal mining projects. BNEF projects that by 2040, coal will no longer play the role of a superpower in the Indian society.

The world’s largest single-location solar power plant

Kurnool, in Andhra Pradesh, is currently the site of the world’s largest single-location solar park, which has a potential capacity of 1,000 mega watts. With 900 MW already commissioned, it has outpaced the 648 MW solar park developed by Adani Industries in Tamil Nadu and Topaz Solar Park of 550 MW in California.

The project site is located about 280 km from Hyderabad. The park has been developed under the solar parks scheme of MNRE and set up by the Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation, a joint venture company. About ₹7,000 crore has been invested in the park by developers and the government.

Growth of renewable energy touched the 7th Sky

Government aims high and works towards enhancing large scale as well as small scale industries to ramp up in solar energy production such as rooftop solar. Installation of solar parks across the nation are on the verge of enhancement. The government of India has set a target of installing 40 GW of rooftop solar and electrifying 18,000 villages by 2022. More use of solar batteries is encouraged. Urban as well as rural sector make use of solar panels to generate electricity. Obstacles which used to block the pathway of production due to lack of resources is being rescued.

These facts make India one of the leading nations to fight against Pollutants. India has completed 71 years of independence and we must take pride in various enterprises which have worked so hard to achieve this agenda of making India a healthy nation to live. We make best use of nature to provide cleaner and a healthier atmosphere, we have freed ourselves from infected environment. This is freedom secured in true sense.

Written By: Manaswita

Edited By: Anirban Banerjee