SunTechnics bets big on Indian renewable sector

With India emerging as a leading market in the renewable energy sector, SunTechnics Energy Systems Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany-based SunTechnics, has decided to invest over $5 million over the next couple of years.

The firm, which began its operations in the SAARC region nine months ago, is targeting a revenue between $3 million and $5 million this fiscal.

The firm, which specialises in photovoltaics, solar thermal, bioenergy (gasification & biodiesel) and small wind turbines, is in the process of setting up a manufacturing plant in Bangalore.

"We were late in coming to India. But now we want to capture a sizeable share of the market. Our parent company "� Conergy Group "� has been growing at a rate of 100 per cent a year worldwide. We have to maintain a similar growth," SunTechnics director and country manager Rajesh Bhat said.

Recently, the Centre made it clear that the renewable energy sector should contribute 10 per cent of the electricity generated by 2012.

"The potential is immense. We are in talks with various government agencies and private sector. We have bagged several projects. We want to emerge as a major player in the coming years," he added.

At present, the firm is installing photovoltaic systems for the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency, each with a capacity of up to six kilowatts.

For the West Bengal Renewal Energy Development Agency, SunTechnics is implementing photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 58 kilowatts that are integrated into buildings.

In north India, the installation of photovoltaic-wind-hybrid plants with a total capacity of 50 kilowatts is being planned. In June earlier this year, SunTechnics successfully started running two biogas-powered electricity generation facilities in Kerala.

Bhat said SunTechnics sees a huge potential in the field of electricity generation by bioenergy.

"We have obtained a licence from the IISc for biomass gasification technology. This technology can be relevant in other parts of the world also as the biogas plants have the ability to accept a wide variety of organic residues as primary fuel input," he pointed out.

The firm has also decided to tap the IT sector for growth. "A number of IT parks are coming up everywhere. We can provide them a bouquet of environment friendly energy system," Bhat stated.

SunTechnics was founded in 1996 as a solar company offering turnkey solutions. Since 2005, the firm has broaden its focus from Europe to global markets.