With a legacy rooted in precision engineering and unmatched consumer trust, Havells has long been a household name in India’s electrical landscape. From switches that power homes to cables that run through industries, the brand has quietly wired the country’s growth for over seven decades. But now, Havells is harnessing the sun — not just as a power source, but as a platform for innovation, self-reliance, and smart sustainability.
At Renewable Energy India Expo 2025, The Battery Magazine caught up with Mr. Vinay Shetty, Vice President – Solar Business Unit at Havells, to dive into the company’s next chapter. From launching in-house solar inverters and cutting-edge TopCon panels to gearing up for AI-powered module manufacturing in Surat, Havells is pushing the boundaries of what Indian-made solar can look like.
More than just a product portfolio, Havells is designing for Indian realities — unreliable grids, harsh climates, and service challenges — with a philosophy that’s as bold as it is simple: “Fit it. Forget it.” In this exclusive conversation, Mr. Shetty shares how Havells plans to lead the rooftop revolution with rugged performance, scalable design, and a vision for solar that goes far beyond the rooftop.
What’s new at Havells Solar at REI 2025?
It’s always a pleasure to be part of REI Expo—it’s a dynamic space where innovation meets opportunity. This year has been especially exciting for Havells Solar. Our engineering and product teams have worked tirelessly to deliver new, in-house developed products that align with India’s evolving solar landscape.
At this year’s expo, we’ve launched our 5 kW single-phase grid-tied inverter, designed and manufactured entirely in-house. It’s field-tested, certified, and ready for commercial sale by next month. We’re also showcasing a 3 kW single-phase residential inverter, as well as a prototype of a 3 kW hybrid inverter—our foray into storage-integrated residential solutions.
On the module front, we’ve introduced two new solar panels featuring TopCon technology—595 W and 620 W ratings. These are high-efficiency, next-gen products designed for both rooftop and larger installations.
Havells is already a household name in electricals. How are you leveraging that legacy to shape the solar segment?
Our mission at Havells Solar is to replicate the trust, reliability, and performance that people have come to expect from our brand. We are one of the very few companies in India that offer a complete solar package—from modules and inverters to ACDBs, DCDBs, cables, SPDs, and switches.
With over 70 years in the Indian electrical ecosystem, Havells has the supply chain, service network, and R&D infrastructure to scale solar in a meaningful and sustainable way. What sets us apart is our integrated product development approach—where solar is not just an add-on, but a core part of our portfolio.
Energy storage seems to be gaining traction globally. What’s Havells’ approach to this next frontier?
You’re absolutely right—energy storage is the next revolution, and we’re preparing for it on all fronts. Globally, we’ve seen how integrating batteries with solar makes the grid smarter, more stable, and more efficient. India is now entering that phase.
We’re actively working on hybrid inverter platforms that can enable residential and commercial users to store and use solar power more intelligently. These systems are going to be essential for areas with unreliable grids, and for supporting rooftop projects under schemes like PM Suryaghar Yojana.
We expect hybrid + storage solutions in 3 kW and 5 kW categories to take off in the next 18–24 months—possibly even reaching gigawatt scale by 2026.
Havells products are known for their quality. How are you ensuring the same in solar—especially for inverters?
Great question—and it’s one close to my heart. At Havells, service and product longevity are non-negotiable. Our inverters are designed with the philosophy of “fit it and forget it.” But behind that simplicity lies deep engineering.
We’ve considered every stress point—unreliable residential grids, high dust environments, user overloading, and even misuse. Components are sourced from tier-1 vendors like Infineon. We’ve incorporated advanced diagnostics, including black-box features that log up to 100 fault events. This helps our service team detect and respond instantly.
Our goal is simple: zero compromise. Whether it’s a ₹50 switch or a ₹50,000 inverter, the quality standard is the same.
Are there any digital or AI features being integrated into Havells Solar’s future roadmap?
Yes, absolutely. Artificial Intelligence is already part of our design optimization process. And as we set up our new solar module facility in Surat, we’re integrating AI to enhance quality control, material optimization, and process automation.
We also plan to expand software integration through remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and smart diagnostics—especially for hybrid systems and large C&I deployments. Our R&D team is actively exploring AI-backed BMS platforms and cloud analytics for solar+storage packages.
How is Havells approaching sustainability within its manufacturing and supply chain?
Sustainability isn’t a checkbox—it’s a practice embedded across our operations. Nearly all of our 15 manufacturing units in India are solar-powered and meet over 50% of their energy needs through renewables.
Our upcoming Tumkur facility will follow the same blueprint. We also prefer suppliers who commit to greener practices—especially for our solar modules and inverters. We’re looking at both upstream and downstream carbon reductions—product design, logistics, packaging, and end-of-life recycling.
What’s your message to residential customers considering rooftop solar?
My message is simple: the time is now. With better GST policies, government incentives, and reliable grid-tied and hybrid systems becoming more affordable, residential solar is ready for scale.
Choose wisely—go with a brand that stands behind its product and understands the Indian market inside out. Solar isn’t just about cost—it’s about performance, reliability, and service. And at Havells, that’s what we deliver.
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