An integrated solar roofing system, comprising a solar panel on a cement base, is the latest offering from Visaka Industries Ltd; for which the company is setting up a plant in Telangana.
Initially, the customer segment in focus, of the Atum brand’s solar roofing system, would be industries and enterprises that have metal roofs at their facilities.
Atum launch
The product would help reduce thermal conductivity compared to a metal roof and thus also cut down on the energy usage, the company said in a release issued on the occasion of the launch of Atum, a function attended by several industrialists, including Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories CEO G.V. Prasad.
Later, in an interaction, joint managing director G. Vamsi Krishna expressed confidence on the product gaining popularity in the backdrop of aluminium and metal roof becoming redundant, and on solar energy catching up.
The research and development was conducted in-house and the integrated solar roofing panels would be made at the plant set up by Visaka Industries in Mriyalaguda.
The 60 MW facility, entailing an investment of ₹ 10 crore, is expected to be commissioned in two-three months, he said.Noting that the roofing system, which includes imported components, would cost ₹700/sq ft, Mr. Vamsi Krishna said 1 lakh sq ft could help generate 1 mw power annually.
On markets with good sales prospects, he counted Tamil Nadu and said the plan eventually was to go pan-India.
Residential market
Catering to the residential segment is also on the cards, he said, adding that the system was being installed, on a demonstration basis, at three units, each in Yadadri and Sangareddy districts under the Telangana government’s 2BHK scheme.
It was also involved in discussions for similar initiatives in Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal.
Visaka Industries vice-chairman and former Member of Parliament G. Vivekanand said the company was setting up plant for manufacture of V-Next products in Haryana and proposed to add another in West Bengal, in 2019.
