Owing to the significant environmental concerns due to the depletion of the natural ecosystem, as the risk perception mediates between environment preservation and the adoption of renewable resources, the world can be seen making a positive move towards a sustainable approach through environment-friendly initiatives for energy consumption. Notably, India has reached a remarkable milestone in its renewable energy journey, with its total renewable energy capacity crossing 200 GW (gigawatt). While this achievement is all credited to India’s clean energy and greener future initiatives, further applause goes to the rising renewable energy solutions providers who are extensively backing this growth. Amidst the many companies that want India to lend a hand in its target of achieving 500 GW harnessing natural resources by 2030, Suninfra Energies is the one that stands differentiated.

Suninfra Energies is a major part of this industry specializing in the development and turnkey execution of solar power plants for commercial and industrial consumers. Founded in 2016, the company is the brainchild of Durgesh Maru, a computer engineer with experience in data science, analytics, and digital strategy. Holding a master’s in management at a top business school in France, he has also attended programs in Hong Kong and at Berkeley in the United States.

Throughout his journey, one thing was clear to him, that he wanted to make a tangible, sustainable impact that would create a real difference in the world. Thus, when many of his peers from a computer science background were focused on the software sector, his passion for sustainability led him to establish Suninfra Energies. Durgesh states, “Back in 2016, when I chose to enter this field, solar energy was only emerging as a promising area and soon represented to be one of the most accessible options for contributing to sustainability and decarbonization, helping to achieve global net-zero targets”.

Suninfra Energies’ goal is to provide energy transition solutions for some of the most carbon-intensive industries, and thus it provides customized solutions involving both onsite and offsite solar power plants. Its offerings include onsite solar plants, offsite open access solar plants, as well as energy offset solutions such as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Onsite solar plants are installed on large rooftops, ground areas, or even floating solar setups on reservoirs. In contrast, offsite solar power refers to the development of open access solar parks for these companies. Suninfra Energies assists its clients right from identifying the challenges they face to developing a strategic roadmap and implementing it effectively to deliver tangible results.

The company’s primary focus is on EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) which encompasses operation and maintenance services as well. Suninfra Energies isn’t just another EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) company, it is a completely sustainable energy partner for its customers. Its approach is holistic, which means whenever it collaborates with a corporate client, it first assesses its entire footprint and requirements. Once it grasps its complete energy needs, it collaborates with all relevant stakeholders, including those related to energy, finance, and management to create a net-zero energy roadmap. Once the net-zero energy roadmap is established, it offers a range of solutions to help them achieve their goals. This includes identifying the ‘low-hanging fruit’, such as energy efficiency measures and rooftop solar installations, as well as more comprehensive options like open-access solar park solutions, purchasing green energy credits, and implementing virtual Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Durgesh explains, “It’s crucial to bridge the gap between achieving net-zero energy targets and determining the most suitable financing mechanisms. For instance, if a company has available budgets, we work to present a compelling return on investment

(ROI) case for them to invest in renewable energy assets. Currently, these assets can provide over 30 percent internal rate of return (IRR) for captive energy users, making them one of the best investment classes. We inform our clients about these opportunities and propose various models.

If a company has expansion plans but is conservative with capital spending, we can offer a flexible solution. In this case, we, as developers, or with the assistance of our associated investors, will make the entire investment. Moreover, as we hold Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with several leading banks, including the State Bank of India, Bank of India, ECOFY Solutions, and AEREM Solutions, there is also an option available to secure loans for solar projects at competitive rates tailored to the customer’s needs. After all this, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is signed and we charge the customers based on their energy usage”.

It’s crucial to bridge the gap between achieving net-zero energy targets and determining the most suitable financing mechanisms

One of the core strengths of Suninfra Energies is that it has a complete in-house team dedicated to the turnkey development of these solar parks. This includes everything from identifying and selecting land, aggregating land, and securing grid connectivity permissions, to signing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and securing contracts for captive solar open access plants.

In this area, it handles complete in-house design, engineering, and installation sourcing the highest quality materials from around the world. It also imports equipment globally, ensuring thorough installation, commissioning, and best ongoing operations and maintenance.

The Emphasis on Standard Compliances & Technology Integration
Suninfra Energies focuses on several key aspects of its operations and that includes adhering to the necessary ISO certifications that validate the quality of its work.The most crucial aspect, however, is prioritizing health and safety. The company is also committed to following the best practices in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) as well as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) when managing our solar plants. Additionally, it has an in-house team dedicated to ensuring that all regulatory compliance is met and that the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are obtained on time for all its projects.

As technology has penetrated industries, Suninfra Energies has also rooted its belief firmly around it and thus is dedicated to ensuring the longevity of solar plants while delivering systems that operate at optimal energy generation levels. To achieve these goals, Suninfra conducts thorough due diligence on technology, design, and engineering. A solid design is fundamental to the success of a solar plant, influencing maintenance and performance. Hence, while designing solar plants, it focuses on reliable operation for 30 years as per its energy generation commitments. It carefully selects vendors by assessing their manufacturing processes and quality control.

For instance, Suninfra Energies employs the latest Topcon technology in solar panels and yields an impressive output of 585 to 600 watts. Moreover, Suninfra prioritizes the financial stability of its vendors to ensure long-term support and warranty fulfillment. To protect customer interests, the organization often secures third-party insurance for solar panel performance, mitigating concerns over future manufacturer service availability. For solar inverters, it utilizes string inverter technology to enable quick repairs, along with optimizer-based technologies that enhance overall generation and provide complete performance visibility. Precisely, Suninfra Energies is committed to rigorous quality assurance and adheres to best practices in installation and asset management to uphold the highest standards in its projects.

Growth & Future Roadmap
Founded with the fundamental principle of helping companies achieve energy freedom and meet their sustainability goals, today Suninfra Energies is not only a consultant or EPC partner, but it has extensively positioned itself as a true energy partner. Appreciably, it has even received several prestigious awards recently for its mission like being recognized as one of the top 10 solar EPC contractors according to the Bridge to India (division of CRISIL) report published in December 2024. Additionally, the company has been acknowledged as the top solar EPC contractor in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector for 2023-24 and awarded the best-performing solar power plant for industrial consumers by EQ.

Suninfra Energies’ both on-site and off-site open access solar initiatives are recognizable. Regarding off-site open access solar plants, it is constructing captive facilities for several clients such as NMIMS University, Endurance Technologies, and more. Recently, it has successfully developed two solar parks and is currently working on four more, primarily in the western part of India. These solar parks are set to generate a total of approximately 150 megawatts of solar power, with the installation planned over the next year and a half. These parks will meet the energy needs of several prominent institutions in India, including Mithibai College, Bhagobai College, and other NMIMS institutes. Additionally, its solar park clients encompass some of the largest foundries and auto component manufacturers in India, which is worth noting concerning open access projects. On the on-site solar plant side, Suninfra Energies has successfully delivered large rooftop solar solutions to companies such as the Well spun Group, Tata Power, and the Brabourne Stadium. Moreover, it is currently developing projects that integrate renewable energy with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and green hydrogen solutions.

“We aim to be recognized as the preferred net-zero energy partner for corporate India. To achieve this, we will deliver integrated renewable energy solutions that address the full spectrum of energy requirements encompassing energy efficiency solutions, solar energy, round the clock renewable energy solutions, battery storage systems (BSS), and green hydrogen solutions in the future”, Durgesh concludes.