Hensel Electric India Private Limited (HEI), a fully owned subsidiary of Gustav Hensel GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, stands as a leader in the manufacture of cutting-edge electrical installation and power distribution systems for building facility equipment. Since its establishment in 2003, with headquarters near Chennai on India’s southern coast, HEI has delivered innovative solutions, particularly for the renewable energy sector.
The company’s integrated competence center serves as a hub for its Asia-Pacific operations. It includes a comprehensive information and exhibition area, a dedicated design and development department, and a highly skilled production and quality assurance team. With this strong foundation, HEI drives its activities in the region. Supported by a marketing team spread across 40 cities and distribution partners in 165 industrial hubs, HEI ensures seamless access to its products and technical support throughout India. Additionally, its Singapore branch office, along with resident sales managers stationed across ASEAN, offers consistent support to customers and partners across the Asia-Pacific region.
In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World, Arun Kumar Jalua, Deputy General Manager – Sales at Hensel Electric India, sheds light on the company’s product offerings for the renewable energy sector. He highlights the immense potential of these products in the Indian market and emphasizes the groundbreaking innovations HEI is driving in the renewable energy space. Below are the key insights from our conversation with him.
Q: Can you elaborate on Hensel’s role in the renewable energy sector? Specifically, what types of products is the company designing, and how are these innovations contributing to the growth and advancement of renewable energy?
A: Hensel specializes in weatherproof enclosures and brings German engineering excellence to India. As a German company, all our products are manufactured in Germany, but we enhance them locally through our in-house engineering team based at our headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
We add significant value to our enclosures, particularly in the solar sector. We supply critical components for solar power plants, including DC combiner boxes, Alternating Current Distribution Boxes (ACDB), and control systems for solar module tracking. Additionally, we design, assemble, and service Direct Current Distribution Boxes (DCDB), string monitoring systems, and similar products for a wide range of customers.
Q: What potential do you see for these types of products in the Indian market?
A: Solar energy is still evolving, with much more on the horizon. We’re in the early stages, but the opportunities are immense, especially with the government’s strong focus on renewable energy. As conventional energy sources continue to deplete, solar is becoming increasingly vital for the future.
Our investors are highly optimistic about the Indian market, recognizing the vast consumption, large population, and growing demand. As a company, we share that optimism and have experienced exponential growth since 2000. We are confident that this upward trajectory will continue as solar becomes more integral to India’s energy landscape.
Q: Can you provide insights into the market size for these products in India, and what share does your company currently hold within that market?
A: Estimating the market size as a whole is challenging, but we are making significant strides. Currently, we cater to only about 6-7% of the Indian market for our solar products, which shows that we are still in the early stages of growth. However, we are continuously introducing new solutions for renewable energy and expanding our offerings. Our focus remains on delivering exceptional service to our customers while steadily increasing our market share.
Q: Can you share insights into the innovations driving the development of new products in the Indian market, particularly in the renewable energy sector?
A: At this expo, we’ve introduced our new module tracking control distribution box (DB)—a breakthrough product. We’re the first to bring this range to the exhibition. This system automatically controls the movement of solar modules in line with the sun’s position, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. You simply program the system, and it operates autonomously, offering effortless efficiency.
Another innovation we’ve launched is designed for solar rooftop plants. When homeowners supply surplus energy to the grid, fluctuations in grid voltage or frequency can send damaging feedback to the inverter and modules, causing issues for the customer. To prevent this, we’ve developed a control system that sits between the inverter and the grid, sensing any disturbances and rapidly shutting down the system to protect it. This new technology offers a critical safeguard for customers, ensuring seamless and safe energy transfer.
