The world is facing a lot of problems today due to the emission of harmful vapors that come from burning fossil fuels. Traditional sources of energy are getting depleted and are also pollutants. So, scientists globally have been working for quite some time to create alternative sources of energy. Renewable energy is among the key alternatives.
What is renewable energy?
Renewable, or clean, energy is obtained from natural sources that get replenished continuously. E.g. sunlight and wind. Their intensity might vary with the weather and time of the day but they will never be exhausted.
For ages, sailors have harnessed wind power to drive their boats. Wind power has also been used to drive windmills for grinding grains. But exceeding dependence on dirty energy like coal, petroleum, etc. has caused the earth to pay a heavy price.
However, today there are various inexpensive ways to obtain energy from wind and solar power. From rooftop solar panels to giant offshore wind farms, from cities to villages, there is increasing usage of renewable energy.
Advantages of renewable energy
Renewable energy is inexhaustible– these energy resources are obtained directly from the environment. Sunshine, wind, rain, tides, biomass, etc. won’t ever run out – not till there is life on earth. But fossil fuel resources are finite – and they are fast running out.
Maintenance is easier – The technologies that use renewable energy require much lesser maintenance than the generators using traditional fossil fuels. Solar panels and wind turbines are much less complicated apparatuses and don’t depend on combustible energy sources to operate. This also means more usage time and lower expenses.
Lower operating costs – any machine that uses fossil fuel needs refueling periodically. That entails a substantial cost. But you don’t need to pay to refuel with sunlight, wind, tides, etc. You will end up saving a lot of money when you use renewable energy. It can range from several to many thousands of rupees.
It has multiple health benefits – Renewable energy sources emit almost zero greenhouse gases or pollutants. That’s a sizeable reduction in carbon footprints, thereby making for a much cleaner atmosphere and reduced global warming. Fossil fuel emissions also cause a range of respiratory and related ailments. These will be greatly decreased with the adoption of renewable energy sources.
Decreased dependence on foreign energy sources – All the renewable energy sources are available locally. This will greatly reduce the dependence on foreign nations for the sources of fossil fuel energy. This will help save the country precious foreign exchange and help to create more domestic industries engaged in renewable energy generation.
Withal its undeniable advantages, there are some minor drawbacks of renewable energy. They are:
Upfront costs are higher – Though energy generation expenses are lower with renewable energy, initial costs are on the higher side. The required technologies for the initial set up are more expensive than those for traditional fuel ones.
Irregular availability – during the night and during monsoon, sunlight is either not available or is very intermittent. During prolonged droughts, rain would be non-existent. Fossil fuels don’t suffer from such scenarios.
Lower storage capacities – due to the inherent uncertainties of renewable energy sources, it is extremely important to store them for long durations. The present storage capacities are insufficient & expensive.
However, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. And engineers are working round the clock to address these issues. As technology keeps on improving, very soon these drawbacks would be a thing of the past.
The renewable energy sector in India
India is the world’s 4th most attractive renewable energy market. It occupies 4th place in wind power, 5th in solar power, and 5th in renewable power installed capacity. The capacity has seen a CAGR of more than 17% between 2016 & 2020. In April 2020, India’s installed renewable energy capacity stood at almost 87 gigawatts (GW). The Indian government has set a target of installing 175 GW capacity for renewable energy.
The top 10 renewable energy companies in India are:
Adani Green Energy Ltd.
Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) is among India’s top renewable energy companies, with a project portfolio of almost 14,000MW. Part of the renowned Adani Group, the company aims to provide all-round renewable energy at affordable rates to every corner of the country. Backed by the latest technology and long-term Power Purchase Agreements with government entities, AGEL is at the forefront of India’s renewable energy mission.
- Market Cap (Rs Cr.): 114,564.05
- Book Value (Rs): 9.20
- Face Value (RS): 10.00
Profit & Loss
- Mar 20: -61.28
- Mar 19: -471.49
- Mar 18:-137.48
- Mar 17: -46.23
Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd
Part of the globally-admired Tata Group, Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd is India’s largest integrated solar company. With an experience of more than 25 years behind it, the company continues to provide cutting-edge renewable energy solutions that have enriched more than 35 million Indians. To its credit, the company has reduced more than 10 million ones of carbon footprint.
- Market Cap (Rs Cr.): 17,286.79
- Book Value (Rs): 43.22
- Face Value (RS): 1.00
- Turnover (Rs. In Lakhs): 4,936.98
Profit & Loss
- Mar 20: 89
- Mar 19: 1,203.83
- Mar 18: 1,056.94
- Mar 17: -126.16
Suzlon
Suzlon is among the world leaders in providing renewable energy solutions. Present in more than 15 countries across all continents, the company is paving the way for a cleaner & greener tomorrow with its cutting-edge products, backed by tireless R&D in its 14 manufacturing facilities. The company has installed more than 12,000 WTGs and generates more than 28 TWh clean energy every year.
- Market Cap (Rs Cr.): 2,418.30
- Book Value (Rs): -11.82
- Face Value (RS): 2.00
Profit & Loss
- Mar 20: -2,691.39
- Mar 19: -1,531.09
- Mar 18: -389.18
- Mar 17: 899.89
Felix Industries Ltd.
Among India’s premier water resources management companies, Felix Industries believes in the motto of “recycle-reuse-recover-reduce.” The company provides top-class water recycling solutions that help to reuse wastewater & reduce effluents. It also provides Reverse Osmosis Membrane Systems and pre & post-treatment chemicals, among others.
- Market Cap (Rs Cr.): 20.19
- Book Value (Rs): 15.08
- Face Value (RS): 10.00
Profit & Loss
- Mar 19: -1.13
- Mar 18: 26
- Mar 17: 0.17
- Mar 16: 11
Zodiac Energy Ltd.
Incorporated in 1992, the company has come a long way and has installed more than 6000KW of rooftop solar power plants for many reputed organizations as well as households. The company seeks to achieve a leadership position in providing cheap and world-class renewable energy solutions to every corner of India.
- Market Cap (Rs Cr.): 16.57
- Book Value (Rs): 27.99
- Face Value (RS): 10.00
Profit & Loss
- Mar 20: 10
- Mar 19: 2.00
- Mar 18: 25
- Mar 17: 0.11
Solex Energy Ltd.
Solex Energy has experience of more than 17 years in India. It is also the first solar panel manufacturer to get a listing on the NSE. With a turnover of more than Rs 200 crores and a wide range of solar panels, solar rooftop systems, solar water heaters & water pumps, Solex is on its way to becoming among the leading companies in its domain.
- Market Cap (Rs Cr.): 15.07
- Book Value (Rs): 39
- Face Value (RS): 10.00
Profit & Loss
- Mar 20: -2,691.39
- Mar 19: -1,531.09
- Mar 18: -389.18
- Mar 17: 899.89
Sembcorp Energy India
A leading player in the energy sector, Sembcorp has a renewable energy portfolio of more than 2,500MW. The company leverages its global expertise to provide innovative & cost-effective renewable energy solutions, including water management and waste-to-resource offerings.
Orb Energy
Orb Energy is the proud off-setter of more than 2,60,000 tonnes of carbon emission through its renewable energy solutions. Founded in 2006, the company has installed more than 95MW rooftop solar panels through more than 1,60,000 solar systems that it has sold. It provides solar energy solutions to both residential and commercial establishments.
Gram Power
Gram Power began its journey in 2010. It has introduced the cheapest and most advanced electricity metering system in India. This helps reduce power theft and distribution losses. The smart meter also helps reduce electricity consumption, thereby keeping the environment cleaner. The company is working on further digitization of India’s power distribution structure to make it more environment-friendly and also more affordable.
Azure Power
The company’s journey began in 2009 by developing India’s first private solar plant in a village in Punjab. Ever since then, it has been a rewarding journey for Azure Power with a pan-India portfolio of more than 7GW – making it among India’s largest renewable energy organizations. With global-level construction and maintenance expertise, Azure Power is poised to play long innings.
List of Top 10 Renewable energy companies in India
| Sl. No. | Company | Establishment | Headoffice | Website |
| 1 | Adani Green Energy Ltd. | 2015 | Ahmedabad | https://www.adanigreenenergy.com/ |
| 2 | Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd | 1989 | Mumbai | https://www.tatapowersolar.com/
|
| 3 | Suzlon | 1995 | Pune | https://www.suzlon.com/ |
| 4 | Felix Industries Ltd. | 2012 | Ahmedabad | http://www.felixindustries.co/ |
| 5 | Zodiac Energy Ltd. | 1992 | Ahmedabad | http://zodiacenergy.com/ |
| 6 | Sembcorp Energy India | 2008 | Gurugram | https://sembcorpenergyindia.com/ |
| 7 | Orb Energy | 2006 | Bengaluru | https://www.orbenergy.com/ |
| 8 | Gram Power | 2010 | Jaipur | https://www.grampower.com/ |
| 9 | Solex Energy Ltd. | 2014 | Anand | http://www.solex.in/ |
| 10 | Azure Power | 2008 | New Delhi | https://www.azurepower.com/ |
