The Switch

C. Sundar is the local representative for The Switch in the promising wind power market of India. Based in Chennai, he oversees our sales and marketing activities in the fifth largest wind power country in the world, as measured by its installed capacity. Here are some of his thoughts on the task at hand.

Sundar during his visit to Finland. In the background, one of the most famous tourist attractions in the capital city: sculpture by Eila Hiltunen in honor of the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

How would you describe the wind power market in India at the moment?

Right now, India has an installed capacity of 14,500 megawatts, and has the potential for 45,000 MW more in upcoming years. The annual growth rate of installed capacity has been around 2,000-2,500 megawatts. Over the last couple of years, it has slowed to 1,500 MW due to the worldwide economic slump, but I expect the figure to rise to 3,000 MW per year shortly.

Until now, wind power generation in India has only been onshore, as we have not installed offshore capacity. However, we expect to see offshore parks in the near future.

As for technology, the normal induction and double-fed solution has previously dominated the market. But now, demand for the new permanent magnet (PM) / synchronous technology is on a steady rise. So, I estimate that these two solutions will be approximately at the same level in about two to three years.

What do you think are the key elements Indian turbine manufacturers are looking for from their suppliers?

Local competition in India is very fierce. Megawatt prices are coming down, and local manufacturers are increasingly looking for export possibilities. Their aim is to have the production take place in India according to European quality systems. In all, they are looking for better products at an attractive price. In India, pricing is very important.

What do you feel is most important in the Indian market when it comes to The Switch?

So far, The Switch is one of the few companies promoting PM technology in India. As European products are well accepted and highly ranked in India, The Switch products will definitely be in demand here. And Indian customers are always looking for better quality. This holds especially for key products such as generators and converters.

Could you also tell us something about yourself?

I am currently working for the Danish company Wind Cluster as a Country Manager. We offer different products and solutions to wind turbine manufacturers and service providers. We seek to give our customers mileage in their global sales and marketing activities.

I started to work in the wind power industry in 1993. I handled different portfolios, like nacelle production, site commissioning and quality assurance for turbine manufacturers. For the past 10 years, I’ve been working in the same industry as a product supplier and have been taking care of different projects in sales and marketing. During this time, I have developed good contacts with all the wind turbine manufacturers in India.

I’m blessed with a wife working as a Lecturer in Computer Applications in a renowned university and a 4-year-old little boy. As for my hobbies, I like listening to music, reading business magazines and meeting my friends.

Meet Sundar – The Switch agent in India

Meet Sundar –
The Switch agent in India