{"id":13154,"date":"2016-11-04T17:48:21","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/aspiration-energy-decentralized-solar-thermal-systems-for-industrial-process-heating\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T17:48:21","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:48:21","slug":"aspiration-energy-decentralized-solar-thermal-systems-for-industrial-process-heating","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/aspiration-energy-decentralized-solar-thermal-systems-for-industrial-process-heating\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspiration Energy: Decentralized Solar Thermal Systems for Industrial Process Heating"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aspiration Energy Pvt. Ltd. is a solar energy services company located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu that helps Indian manufacturers utilize solar energy for industrial process heating and enables Indian telecom providers to sustainably support telecom towers using solar panels. The company sets up decentralized rooftop solar panels for manufacturers and offers an innovative performance based monthly payment system. Founder and CEO, Bhoovarahan Thirumalai, an entrepreneur and graduate of the Kellogg School of Management, regularly speaks at national and international conferences on renewable energy. Thirumalai dreams of \u201charness(ing) the high level of (power system) isolation abundantly available in India to provide cost effective energy solutions.\u201d [1] Along with a core team comprising Kanchana Rajagopalan (Head \u2013 Operations), Kasthuri Rangan (Head \u2013 Solar PV), and Manoharan K (Head \u2013 Solar Thermal), Thirumalai sets the strategic direction and runs the operations of this 1700 person ISO 9001:2008 certified company. [1]<\/p>\n

Background and Significance:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Located in the sun soaked southern portion of India, a country that ranks among the top emitters of carbon dioxide and was ranked in 2013 by a study conducted by Yale University and Columbia University at 126 out of 132 countries based on environment performance [2], innovative private sector companies like Aspiration Energy have significant potential. Additionally, India officially submitted its instrument of ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement to the United Nations on October 16, 2016 (the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) in a joint push with other nations to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and tackle the challenges of global warming and climate change. [3] The Government of India is reportedly planning a USD 200 billion spending push on the renewable energy sector with hopes to increase renewable energy capacity by a factor of approximately 3.7 by the year 2022 and plans to secure forty percent of total energy from solar and wind sources by 2030. [4] With growing global and governmental recognition of the need to address climate change, Aspiration Energy and the Indian private sector are on the cusp of significant business opportunities.<\/p>\n

Company Response:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manufacturing industries require sources of heat energy often at varying temperature levels for processes in their factory value chain. Aspiration Energy focuses on developing a renewable source of energy for the provision of low temperature (less than 120 degrees Celsius) industrial process heating requirements. The global demand for this is sizeable: low temperature industrial heat demand is thirty percent of the total industrial process heat demand and seven percent of global energy demand. [5]<\/p>\n

The Company mounts solar heating panels known as Evacuated Tube Collectors [5] on factory rooftops that collect solar thermal heat radiation during the day. Relevant variables such as variation of solar radiation levels during the day, maximum load of industrial processes, load variation within manufacturing shifts and type\/slope of factory roof tops are factored into the design calculations. Evacuated Tube Collectors were previously able to generate heat levels of up to 70 degrees Celsius; however, Aspiration Energy has been able to use technological innovations to increase this to more than 100 degrees Celsius, giving them the ability to cover the entire range of low temperature industrial process heat applications spanning a range of industries including paper, chemicals, machinery and equipment, rubber and plastic, textiles, automotive and auto ancillary, and food and beverages. [5],[6]<\/p>\n

\"Fig<\/a>
Fig 1: Industrial Applications
Source: Industrial Solar Heating \u2013 Aspiration Energy. 2016. Industrial Solar Heating \u2013 Aspiration Energy. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/aspirationenergy.com\/industrial-solar-heating\/. [Accessed 04 November 2016].<\/figcaption><\/figure>An important feature of Aspiration Energy\u2019s response to India\u2019s need for renewable energy is their innovative payment and financing system. The Company offers its customers three options: 1. Pay Per Unit requiring monthly payments on a per unit of energy basis, 2. Pay As You Save (PAYS) based on estimated fuel savings, 3. Outright Purchase offering a customer the option to purchase the entire solar heating system [7]. The PAYS system is of particular benefit to smaller manufacturers in India that may not have the funds or willingness to invest in an outright purchase or lease.<\/p>\n

\"screen-shot-2016-11-04-at-5-38-46-pm\"<\/a>
Fig 2: Range of services provided Source: Industrial Solar Heating \u2013 Aspiration Energy. 2016. Industrial Solar Heating \u2013 Aspiration Energy. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/aspirationenergy.com\/industrial-solar-heating\/. [Accessed 04 November 2016].<\/figcaption><\/figure>Aspiration Energy was the recipient of several awards including \u201cMost Innovative Energy Saving Product\u201d by the Confederation of Indian Industry [8] and \u201cClimate Solver 2013\u201d by WWF-India [5]. Of particular interest is the fact that they have also received Government sponsored solar energy projects under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) through Aspiration\u2019s PAYS scheme [8].<\/p>\n

Into the Future:<\/strong><\/p>\n

With growing need for renewable energy, increasing participation in this sector by other Indian and international private sector companies is to be expected. Being a relatively early mover in this space, Aspiration should focus on expansion in its target markets to develop a strong client base as larger competitors enter. They should also develop an effective medium term plan to fund growth and research into technological advancement. A very effective strategy would be to leverage their work with MNRE to position them as the Government\u2019s trusted partner in fulfilling its international climate obligations.<\/p>\n

(797 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Aspiration Energy is an innovative company poised for success with growing demand for renewable energy in India<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1777,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[26,1218,81,1807,185,179,14],"class_list":["post-13154","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","hentry","category-clean-energy","category-climate-change","category-india","category-paris-agreement","category-renewable-energy","category-solar-energy","category-sustainability"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nAspiration Energy: Decentralized Solar Thermal Systems for Industrial Process Heating - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/aspiration-energy-decentralized-solar-thermal-systems-for-industrial-process-heating\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Aspiration Energy: Decentralized Solar Thermal Systems for Industrial Process Heating - 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