GameChange Solar, a US-based company specializing in solar trackers, balance of system, and transformers, has found significant success in the Indian market. With approximately 5 GW of supplies in India for various solar projects, the company aims to triple its installations in the country. India has emerged as the second-largest market for GameChange Solar, after the US, driven by the large-scale adoption of solar energy, particularly in utility-scale projects.
The company’s entry into the Indian market began around 2015-16, with Tata Power being one of its earliest clients. GameChange Solar has since collaborated with prominent companies like NLC India, NTPC, and Sterling & Wilson on several solar projects. The firm’s solar trackers have been utilized in various projects, including a 750 MW solar project in Khavda. The rise of Round-The-Clock (RTC) and Firm Dedicated Renewable Energy (FDRE) tenders has created new opportunities for solar tracker firms, as these projects require optimal solar generation during morning and evening periods.
However, solar trackers face challenges such as requiring additional space, with estimates suggesting a 30-40% increase in space demand per MW of solar project. Despite this, the use of solar trackers can reduce dependency on storage devices and increase energy output by 14-20% per MW. GameChange Solar has introduced its solar transformers manufactured in India, which are expected to drive growth due to increasing grid requirements for solar and data centers.
The company plans to expand its supplies in India, targeting 10 GW by the end of the year and potentially surpassing 15 GW next year. CEO Vikas Bansal attributed the company’s success in India to the country’s huge opportunities in the solar sector. While challenges such as trust, awareness, and cost-effectiveness may influence developers’ decisions to adopt solar trackers, many have already opted for the technology to improve system efficiency and mitigate the impact of strong winds and cloudy periods.
In the Indian utility-scale market, approximately 50% of projects are using solar trackers, and this number is expected to increase with the growth of RTC and FDRE projects. GameChange Solar’s focus on solar trackers and transformers is likely to drive its growth in the Indian market, which has become a crucial destination for the company’s equipment. As the Indian solar market continues to expand, GameChange Solar is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities, with its expertise in solar trackers and balance of system solutions.