Que: To begin with, could you tell us a bit about GameChange Solar and the recently introduced Balance of System (BoS) plant? How do these two businesses complement each other?

Ans: GameChange Solar began its journey in 2012 in New York as a technology-driven company focused on fixed-tilt racking solutions for solar farms. Between 2012 and 2015, we became one of the largest providers of fixed-tilt systems in the US.

In 2015, based on strong customer feedback, we saw the need for tracking solutions to increase energy yield, particularly during morning and evening hours. That led to the development of our Genius Tracker platform, which launched in 2015. Within a few years, we became one of the top three solar tracker suppliers in the US.

Today, GameChange Solar is the third-largest tracker company globally, with a footprint spanning over 40 countries. We handle about 18–20 GW annually, half from the US and half from international markets. In India and sub-Saharan Africa, we are already the market leader.

As for transformers, our customers, especially from solar and wind segments, expressed a growing need for reliable medium-voltage transformers. In response, we set up a greenfield manufacturing facility at Taloja near Mumbai, a 180,000 sq. ft. plant capable of producing up to 2,000 transformers a year. Commissioned in June, it is already supplying transformers to our US clients.

Que: How long have you been operating in India, and how has the journey been so far?

Ans: We formally entered India in 2021, but our first major project – a 400 MW solar tracker project with Tata Power in Dholera, Gujarat – was secured in 2020. So effectively, this is our fifth year in the Indian market.

Initially, India was developed as part of our China Plus One supply chain diversification strategy. But the local opportunity quickly became much larger. Once NTPC began introducing trackers in 2022, the entire market followed. Today, more than 50 percent of India’s new solar capacity uses trackers.

Que: What have been your key milestones and landmark projects in India?

Ans: Our first major project was the 400 MW Tata Power project in Dholera (2021), followed by the NTPC Nokh solar project in Rajasthan, commissioned in 2024. We’ve also supplied to several marquee projects, including:

• 780 MW with NLC at Khavda (executed by Bondada Engineering)
• 1.3 GW with Sterling & Wilson at Khavda for GIPCL
• 500 MW for Brookfield, executed by Jakson Green
• 390 MW for Aditya Birla Group, built by Jakson Green

Altogether, we now have a 15 GW project portfolio in India, with around 5-6 GW commissioned and the rest under execution.

Que: The Indian solar market has grown fast, but is also facing challenges such as RE curtailment, land acquisition and ISTS project delays. How do you navigate these issues?

Ans: Land availability and connectivity are the biggest bottlenecks. In India, land parcels are irregular and fragmented, so our engineering team in Bengaluru plays a critical role in redesigning layouts based on land availability.

On curtailment, our tracker technology inherently helps. Since trackers spread energy generation throughout the day, they face less curtailment compared to fixed-tilt systems, which peak midday. A flatter generation curve also contributes to grid stability – one reason why countries like the US, Australia, and South Africa have 80–90 percent tracker adoption.

Que: What sets GameChange Solar apart from its competitors in the Indian market?

Ans: Three things:

• Reliability: Our trackers are built to withstand high wind speeds up to 140 km/hr, which is critical for sites in Gujarat and Rajasthan. With over 48 GW delivered globally, our reliability record is unmatched.

• Responsiveness: We maintain a large local engineering base to handle dynamic land challenges, enabling faster turnaround times for clients.

• Performance: Our proprietary software suite helps plants generate 1–3 percent more energy than competitors, ensuring better project economics.

Que: GameChange recently introduced a tracker system that allows interchangeable modules for the global market. Is that available in India too?

Ans: Yes. A version of this flexible tracker design has already been deployed in India, initially tested with NTPC two years ago. It allows module interchangeability without redesigning the tracker, offering EPCs and developers greater flexibility.

Que: The Indian government is pushing for full solar manufacturing localisation. How localised is your current tracker production?

Ans: We have about 24 GW of annual production capacity through our contract manufacturing partners in India, covering all key tracker components. We already produce about 90 percent of the tracker components locally. The tools are GameChange-owned, and the products are made exclusively for us.

By mid-2026, we expect to achieve 100 percent localisation – a fully India-made product, designed in the US, but engineered and manufactured here.

Que: Let’s talk about your transformer business. How does it fit into your broader strategy for India?

Ans: Transformers are a natural extension of our solar ecosystem. The facility in Taloja, Maharashtra, caters to medium-voltage transformers used in solar, wind, and data centers. We’ve spent the past year establishing a local supply chain. We aim to ramp up production to 2,000 units per year within 12 months. India’s supplier ecosystem is strong, so scaling up is a natural next step.

Que: You also mentioned data centers and EVs as emerging segments. How do you plan to tap into those segments?

Ans: Our transformers are already being used in data centers in the US, and we’re in talks with several Indian data centre developers. Many of these centres run on green power sourced from solar plants – often built using our tracker technology. So, we’re present both in the generation and consumption sides of that ecosystem.

Que: What’s your five-year roadmap for India?

Ans: For solar trackers, we currently hold around 50 percent market share in India. Our goal is to maintain leadership by continuously upgrading technology through US-based R&D while producing and engineering locally.

For transformers, we’re focusing on solar, wind, and data center segments initially. We plan to expand our transformer capacity beyond 2,000 units per year as the business scales.

Overall, our aim is to make India a global manufacturing hub for both trackers and transformers, supporting India’s 500 GW renewable energy target with reliable, locally made solutions.