Volks has recently secured consecutive orders by BPCL, the latest being the IDPL (Irugur–Devangonthi Pipeline) stretched across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The core objectives include designing, installing and commissioning off-grid solar PV systems, along with lithium-ion battery storage, says Piyush Goyal, Co-Founder & CEO of Volks Energie in an interview with Evolution Auto India.
Q: Volks Energie has emerged as a key player in the energy sector. What was the founding vision, and how has it evolved in light of the global push for clean energy and EV ecosystem?
Piyuish Goyal: While starting Volks, the founding team came together with a simple vision: to aid India’s push for sustainability and power critical infrastructure through reliable, off-grid renewable solar and battery systems. Since our inception, our vision has evolved in response to the global push for clean energy and the growth of the EV ecosystem in India. Today, we are not only focused on solar-BESS implementation, but also on integrating advancements in battery technology, specifically Ni-Cd & Li-Ion, in addition to precision HVAC and partnering with government bodies and leading OEMs.
We envision a future where developmental projects across India’s remotest areas, along with industrial nodes, logistics hubs, highways and EV charging stations are all powered by clean, decentralised energy. This will also reduce India’s dependence on fossil fuels, leading the way to a more independent and sustainable India, harnessing the power of renewable energy.
Today, Volks Energie is aligned with India’s vision to achieve 500 GW of energy from renewable sources. By being at the helm of this change, we have uniquely positioned Volks at the intersection of clean energy, industrial resilience, and India’s readiness for a shift that can potentially define our future.
Q: Volks Energie recently bagged consecutive orders from BPCL for the deployment of solar and Li-ion battery storage. Can you walk us through the key objectives and scope of your project?
Piyuish Goyal: Yes, at Volks, we have recently secured consecutive orders by BPCL, the latest being the IDPL (Irugur–Devangonthi Pipeline) stretched across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The core objectives include designing, installing and commissioning off-grid solar PV systems, along with lithium-ion battery storage. The project ensures continuous and uninterrupted power for critical SCADA and operational functions, sans the reliance on backup on diesel. And additionally, offer industry-grade safety through BMS and fire suppression setups.
Previously, we have already bagged the order for 14 locations between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (total BESS capacity of 1.6MWh). With the recent win for the IDPL project, we have successfully added 7 more locations, achieving a total of 2.4 MWh. It’s a first-of-its-kind project where LFP batteries are being used in critical process areas near the gas pipeline. This has been secured by Volks as an enabler for a clean-energy infrastructure.
Q: Last month, Volks Energie collaborated with JHBDPL project under Gail India Ltd that involved deploying 15 KWP Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants, powered by Ni-Cd batteries. What made Ni-Cd batteries the preferred choice for energy storage in this project?
Piyuish Goyal: The JHBDPL project under Gail India spanned across 9 locations with 15 kWp solar plants. The choice of Ni-Cd batteries was determined by the energy pragmatism, primarily considering their tolerance to extreme temperatures and a long battery life spanning up to 20 years. With high cycle resilience and military-grade durability, it’s the ideal choice for rugged terrains and off-grid sites of Eastern India. On projects where reliability becomes mission-critical and grid-interruptions are frequent, Ni-Cd batteries present as a more pragmatic and reliable choice.
Q: What partnerships or strategic collaborations can we expect from Volks Energie in the next 12–18 months?
Piyuish Goyal: At Volks, we are truly committed to enhancing our public-private collaborative model. Furthermore, the projects will be guided by India’s commitment to sustainability and clean energy.
In the near future, we are working hard towards bagging more such critical solar+Battery deployments with Gail and BPCL. We are also working towards providing our solutions for the offshore stations of ONGC. The other major focus area is Power Sector, starting with central PSUs like Powergrid but also making our presence in state and private DISCOMs, across the country.
Furthermore, with the combination of solar, storage, HVAC, and BMS, we’d offer mission-critical solutions for major developmental projects, such as data centres, metros, airports and more.
We’d also be looking at local manufacturing tie-ups to boost indigenous manufacturing and production of Li-ion and Ni-Cd batteries and ecosystems.
Q: What policy changes or incentives do you believe would accelerate renewable energy and EV adoption in India?
Piyuish Goyal: We truly think it’s time to introduce performance-linked and execution-linked incentives for private players collaborating with the public enterprises for long-term and developmental projects. This includes power supplies or tax credits for on-time deployment of solar + battery, green CAPEX financing to encourage easy access to financing for renewable+storage collateral frameworks, PLI for domestic battery chains. Additional regulatory mandates would also help EV adoption, for instance, if the government requires EV charging stations to have a minimum solar+storage hybrid system and EPC tenders to meet ESC criteria.
With the help of these policy changes, we can decarbonise energy and transport, while ensuring sustainable deployment that is also scalable.
Q: Where do you see India’s EV charging landscape by 2030, and what role do you expect Volks Energie to play?
Piyuish Goyal: By 2030, India’s EV landscape promises to grow in leaps and bounds, projected to have 10-15 million EVs. The same would require at least 2-3 million public charging points. The highlights of this ecosystem would include:
- Solar + BESS integrated charging hubs that remove any dependence on grid extensions or fossil fuels.
- Smart, modular micro-grids co-existing with logistics parks, highways, and industrial estates.
- Dynamic energy management, including V2G (vehicle-to-grid) integrations.
Volks Energie, with proven BESS deployment in mission-critical infrastructure, is well-positioned to lead this transformation. It aims to offer turnkey solutions combining solar, Li–ion storage, precision HVAC, and smart energy controls, thus enabling an EV charging network that is affordable, resilient, and sustainable.