Envision Wind Power Technologies India stands out from competitors in the sector thanks to its distinctive approach to wind energy.
Wind energy plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions as climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue. Mr. RPV Prasad, CEO, Envision Wind Power Technologies India talks about Envision’s commitments to the fight against environmental change and the expected impact of wind energy on the climate.
In this interview, Mr. Prasad discusses the elements that differentiate Envision’s approach and how it benefits their clients.
Q1. How do you see Envision Group contributing to the global movement toward a sustainable future?
Envision Group is committed to advancing the world’s transition to sustainable energy through its innovative and cutting-edge technology, deploying it to make renewable energy accessible and affordable for people around the world. Our Smart Wind and Energy solutions are empowering individuals, businesses, and governments to reduce their carbon footprint and build a sustainable future. We have deployed 15000 wind turbines globally, and are constantly investing in R&D to develop smart energy storage systems with outdoor and indoor applications, thereby bringing renewable projects from smart wind farms to dense urban areas. We have a robust global network of R&D centers which identify the unique contingencies of every region and devise the most advanced products based on the local needs. Through our holistic range of solutions in the Energy, E-mobility and Digital space, we have contributed towards saving 100M tons of CO2. Our future-proof AIoT energy operating system, EnOS, has enabled us to create comprehensive and tailored solutions to lead sustainable energy transition across the world. In addition to this, we are also investing in education and advocacy to further promote sustainability.
Q2. A project that the company worked on in the past that was particularly challenging and how you overcame the obstacles?
Since our establishment in 2016, we have successfully delivered two turnkey projects in India between 2018 and 2019, despite encountering numerous challenges during their execution. These challenges ranged from difficulties in land acquisition to delays in project completion due to untimely approval while acquiring private land and a change in power evaluation scheme, which led to significant overruns.
Despite these obstacles, we are proud to report that both projects have been operational for the past four years, and our Envision turbines have consistently performed at high levels of uptime, that of ~99%, setting a new standard in the industry. As a result, we have recently secured orders for 4 GW for our new turbine model EN156/3.3 MW, increasing our market share in India to 45%. This success has been due to our ability to satisfy our customers through not just high-quality turbine performance but also equipment delivery timelines unmatched in the industry
In light of the challenges we faced during project execution, we have chosen to limit our focus to supplying turbines and leveraging our R&D strengths. To that end, we have developed a new turbine, EN156/3.3 MW, which adheres to global standards of quality and safety while also being a good fit for the Indian market in terms of LCoE.
As part of the “Make in India” initiative and to meet the growing demand, we have expanded our Pune factory for Nacelle & Hub assembly to 3 GW per year and are sourcing bladesfrom one of the leading manufacturers based in India with 5 mould and bays dedicated for our production. Additionally, we have established our own four-mould blade plant at Trichy and have already produced the first set of blades, which will be ready for dispatchfrom May2023.The total direct and indirect employment creation from our both plants 2500 ( 500 from our Pune plant and 2000 from Trichy plant), This helps to improve the wealth and livelihood of local people.
Our unwavering commitment to innovation and achieving net zero emissions has enabled us to emerge as a leading provider of total energy solutions across Wind, BESS, Digital and Green hydrogen. As one of the top lithium ion battery manufacturers in the world, we have started offering grid connected stationery storage solutions to the Indian market.
We take pride in being the preferred original equipment manufacturer both in domestic and international markets, thanks to the trust and support of our customers and service providers.
Q3. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing the green technology industry today?
The green technology industry has emerged as a critical player in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. However, despite its potential, the industry faces several challenges that must be addressed to achieve its full potential. The most significant challenge is the high cost of implementation and uncertainty of power evacuation infrastructure availability. Many green technologies require significant investment in infrastructure and equipment, which can be a barrier for many businesses and governments. Another challenge facing the green technology industry is limited awareness and understanding among the general public. People are not familiar with the benefits of green technology, and therefore may not prioritize its implementation. Different products and systems may not be compatible with each other, limiting the scalability of green technology and making it difficult to implement on a large scale. Regulatory barriers can also hinder the growth of the green technology industry. In some cases, regulations may not support the implementation of green technologies, while in other cases, regulations may not be clear or consistent, making it difficult for companies to plan and invest in green technology projects.
To address the above, policymakers and industry leaders must work together to develop clear and consistent regulations that support the growth of the green technology industry. They have a unique opportunity to ensure that all forthcoming developments are aligned with the agenda to invest in green technologies. As per the latest report of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Green tech in India is expected to reach a $45-55 billion market size in the next five years. This shows that the country has the potential to expand on its green tech capabilities and overcome these challenges in the coming years.
Q4. What are some strategies that Envision Group has implemented to ensure the success of its sustainability initiatives and how it is aiding a circular economy?
As a net zero technology partner for companies, governments, and organizations worldwide; we aim to define a system of new industries that will create the foundation for a sustainable future. We believe:
(i) Wind power and energy storage will become the new coal.
(ii) Batteries and hydrogen will become the new oil.
(iii) AI and the Internet of Things will enable the new grid, and
(iv) Net zero industrial parks will become the new infrastructure.
(V) Envision together with global partners, will cultivate green new industry clusters.
Q5. How do you see Envision Group evolving and growing in the next five years, and what opportunities and challenges do you foresee?
For the next 5 years, Envision Group plans to continue its focus on technological innovations achieving net-zero solutions in sectors like wind turbines, ESS, green hydrogen, EV batteries and AIoT products. The company aims to be the leading provider of net-zero solutions while expanding its presence domestically and globally to serve clients and partners better. To achieve this, we will continue investing heavily in research and development, expanding our product and services while developing partnerships and collaborations with global businesses and organizations.
Q6. How do you ensure that every step you take is aligned with Envision Group’s overall sustainability goals and objectives and how are they aligned with the world’s SDGs?
Envision is positioned to achieve carbon neutrality in its value chain by 2028. We have achieved the goal of operational carbon neutrality by the end of 2022. Moreover, we are a leading member of the RE100 initiative and committed to use 100% green electricity by 2025.
The company has set a long-term goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040 in accordance with the SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard. Our team ensures that every step it takes is aligned with its sustainability goals and integrate it into the business strategy and operations.
The company oversees and manages sustainability-related activities, and regularly reports on its sustainability performance. Envision Group’s sustainability goals are aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Q7. How do you prioritize competing demands and projects when working on sustainability initiatives?
Prioritizing competing demands and projects related to sustainability is a complex process that requires careful consideration and strategic planning. At Envision, we recognize our responsibility to lead the way in sustainable energy production, and believe that prioritizing sustainability initiatives is a key component of our success. To ensure that we are making informed decisions about how to allocate our resources and prioritize our sustainability initiatives, we take a data-driven approach. We regularly assess our environmental footprint and set targets for reducing our impact in key areas such as energy consumption, waste reduction, and carbon emissions. We then prioritize projects and initiatives that will have the greatest impact in these areas, taking into account the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of each project. In addition to these quantitative measures, we also consider qualitative factors such as stakeholder engagement and innovation. We believe that engaging with our employees, customers, and local communities is critical to the success of our sustainability initiatives, and we seek out opportunities to collaborate and share resources with other organizations, governments, and communities in order to achieve our goals. Finally, we recognize that innovation is key to achieving our long-term sustainability goals. We invest in research and development to identify new technologies and approaches that have the potential to transform the industry and drive progress towards a more sustainable future. By staying true to our commitment to sustainability and continually seeking out new opportunities for innovation and collaboration, we are confident that we can make a meaningful impact on the environment and lead the way in sustainable wind energy production.
Q8. What do you believe sets Envision group apart from other green technology companies?
As an organisation, we have been committed towards creating a sustainable future for all. Since 2007, our impetus has been to solve the challenges of a sustainable future where everyone has access to clean, secure and affordable energy. We are investing heavily in research and development to create sustainable products and services that can help address climate change. What really makes us stand out is the fact we tie together purpose-driven leadership, technological innovation, and deep collaboration across industries and national boundaries to offer holistic decarbonisation solutions. In addition to that, we are developing a total range of solutions, spanning across clean energy generation, onshore & offshore wind, energy storage systems, EV batteries, and software systems that can orchestrate energy systems on a global scale.
Envision Group’s involvement in the world of green technology also extends to Envision Racing, the motorsports arm of the company. Envision Racing is actively engaged in the FIA Formula E Championship, which is the world’s first all-electric racing series. The team has been a part of the championship since its inception in 2014. Envision Racing’s participation in Formula E demonstrates our commitment to promoting electric mobility and sustainable transportation solutions through competitive motorsports. It also serves as a platform for Envision Group to showcase and develop cutting-edge technologies related to electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy.
Q9. As you helped Microsoft achieve Net Zero through smart building solutions, what were some challenges you faced? Please share your insights.
At Envision, we helped Microsoft achieve Net-Zero through smart building solutions by providing a comprehensive hardware and software solution portfolio to the organisation. Microsoft has committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030. To achieve this goal, it needed to reduce its building energy consumption by at least 2% each year. At the same time, Microsoft wanted to encourage the use of electric vehicles by its employees, further increasing the energy demand on its offices. To solve this challenge, Microsoft teamed up with Envision to develop a comprehensive smart building solution to optimize and manage energy usage. We tackled this by deploying Envision Ark, powered by Envision’s flagship energy management system, EnOS, which is capable of monitoring an organisation’s carbon and energy activities across its supply chain. As a result, we have been able to reduce 219 tonnes carbon emissions per year, create 2.07MWH distributed energy storage, and drive a 5% increase in building energy efficiency per year.
Q10. Can you discuss Envision Group’s approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how the company ensures that all employees are valued and supported?
As a company, we are committed to create a supportive and inclusive workplace for all employees while establishing policies and programs to provide equal employment opportunities, training, and development programs to everyone everywhere, thereby fostering a culture of respect and openness. The company regularly engages with its employees through surveys and feedbacks to understand their needs and concerns. We try to make them feel heard not just by their direct supervisors but including senior management and the Group CEO.
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