Reliance Infrastructure Limited, or RInfra, is now setting its sights on renewable energy with an intent to develop integrated solar and battery manufacturing units. This effort will be a strategic approach to consolidate power in clean energy while riding the wave of transition to sustainable power solutions.
Integrated Solar and Battery Manufacturing Factory
The solar manufacturing plant will manufacture solar panels and supportive equipment, ensuring a sustained feed in the Indian solar energy demand market. Alongside is the battery manufacturing unit, which, besides serving grid-based applications, is actively engaged in electric mobility in efficient renewable energy storage solutions.
This expansion sets the precedent for the Reliance Group to encompass the renewable energy value chain and complement Reliance Power’s clean energy generation endeavors.
Someone to Head the New Vertical
To head this ambitious growth, RInfra is going to appoint a strong roster of industry veterans who have long years of experience in renewable energy and manufacturing.
- Ivan Saha is being considered for CEO of Renewable Manufacturing. He comes with over 30 years of experience in semiconductors, solar technology, and MEMS device design. He has previously served with Vikram Solar as CEO and as CTO at ReNew Power. His contributions to ISRO’s programs in indigenous manufacturing and sensor development further attest to his technological savvy.
- Mushtaque Hussain is slated for CEO of Battery Manufacturing. He has worked for 25 years in automotive, renewable energy, and power tools. His years at Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) and Tesla, managing production of three million battery cells each day, equipped him for the task. His last assignment before RInfra was Senior Vice President and COO of RIL’s New Energy Division, concentrating mainly on sodium-ion and cobalt-free battery technologies.
- For consideration as CTO of Solar Manufacturing, Dr. Shubham Duttagupta is a seasoned expert in photovoltaics and solar industrialization, previously spearheading RIL’s New Energy Business and holding 18 patents in the field.
Expansion in Renewable Energy
At the same time, Reliance Power Ltd., a subsidiary of RInfra, is expanding its renewable generation capacity through Reliance NU Energies Private Limited and examining the profiles of Mayank Bansal for the CEO position and Rakesh Swaroop for COO, who are both seasoned with over 40 years of experience.
Major Solar-BESS Project and Bhutan Expansion
Reliance NU Suntech Private Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Power, has secured a Letter of Intent for a 930 MW solar energy project supported by a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). With a minimum solar-powered storage capacity of 465 MW/1,860 MWh, this will become one of Asia’s largest integrated solar and BESS projects.
On top of that, the company is targeting its regional leadership in clean energy expansion with 1,270 MW of renewable energy projects in Bhutan.
Conclusion
Reliance Infrastructure’s foray into renewable energy manufacturing marks a significant shift towards clean energy solutions. With strategic investments in solar and battery manufacturing, key leadership appointments, and large-scale renewable projects, the company is positioning itself as a major player in India’s sustainable energy transition. These initiatives will reinforce Reliance Infrastructure’s footprint in the renewables arena while supporting enhanced operational efficiency and market leadership in an evolving energy landscape.
