Wedoany.com Report-Oct 10,  New Delhi: India's solar tracker industry is facing significant hurdles, with permitting and interconnection delays being the primary roadblocks, said Howard Wenger, President -

Nextracker, In an interview with ET Energyworld, Wenger emphasized that while the technology behind solar trackers is advancing rapidly, bureaucratic red tape is slowing the pace of progress.

“The biggest challenges now are obtaining permits to build projects and securing interconnection approvals to connect to the grid quickly,” said Wenger, He noted that these delays are holding back the rapid expansion needed to meet India's ambitious renewable energy targets.

Despite these challenges, Nextracker, a global leader in solar tracking systems, has committed to strengthening its presence in India. The company's Hyderabad-based Center of Excellence, which focuses on research and development, plays a crucial role in addressing local challenges such as Gujarat's corrosive soil conditions.“We have customized foundations for our products to adapt to local conditions. and these innovations are key to supporting the growth of solar energy in India,” Wenger added.

Nextracker, which has been operating in India since 2015, has already deployed over five gigawatts of solar trackers, mostly in Gujarat, and has increased its annual manufacturing capacity in the country to 10gigawatts, "India needs 50 gigawatts of solar capacity annually to meet its 2030 goals, we could supply 20% of that ourselves," Wenger said, highlighting the company's commitment to the government's renewable energy push.

While India's solar market has historically relied on fixed-tilt systems pointed out that solar tracker adoption is accelerating. “We've seen a shift in the last few years, where trackers now offer a 16% annual energy advantage over fixed-tilt systems, up from 10% in 2015-2016. This along with lower costs, has made trackers a more attractive option” he explained,

The Hyderabad Center of Excellence, Nextracker's third globally, is instrumental in driving these innovations, With over 350 employees in India, the company is focusing on next-generation products and solutions that are tailored to the local market, “We're proud to have 95%local content in our trackers, and we're fully aligned with the 'Make in India' initiative,” Wenger said.