Tata Power Solar CEO: 100 GW of solar is just the beginning for India

pv magazine caught up with Ashish Khanna, executive director and CEO of Tata Power Solar, at the Renewable Energy India expo to talk rooftop challenges, China’s influence, local manufacturing and the longer-term aspirations of the Indian solar market.

Since acquiring Welspun, Tata Power is now India’s largest developer, with around 9% of installed capacity in the country. What responsibilities come with holding this leading position in such a growing market?
Ashish Khanna: This position of leadership and responsibility is nothing new to Tata, a group synonymous with good values and ethics. In Asia, this is a differentiator because these are traits that you do not see so frequently.

It takes a lot of effort to be a successful business that also gives back to society, and is thinking about how to build a culture of trust with all our stakeholders – which includes contractors, clients, employees, shareholders, and ultimately society. You cannot do this unless you are honest and pursue your objectives diligently, which is part of the DNA of this company.

Tata Power has internal aspirations to generate 30-40% of its capacity on renewables, and to become a fully integrated player. This is a responsible aspiration. We have enjoyed success so far, but it is good to pursue further goals – particularly in solar. Read More…