Started in 1992, as a UPS provider, Power-One Microsystems Pvt Ltd today is considered to be a leading manufacturer of power conversion technology in India. It caters to all power needs - from transformers to solar power systems. With over 30 years of experience, PowerOne is the pioneer in the field of solar-on-grid inverter, solar hybrid inverters, solar off-grid inverters, and solar power plants. In this interview with IPF, I B Rao, Managing Director, Power-One Microsystems Pvt Ltd, shares his view on the emerging trends and new initiatives taken by the company.

Could please share some recent developments in the industry and company? 

While we are well-known in UPS industry, we have taken a big stride in the renewable energy.

In the recent years, the demand for hybrid solar power system - that combines solar and battery storage in one - is growing as it enables to store solar energy that is generated during the day and used at night. We offer PowerOne solar hybrid inverters for this system. The hybrid inverter batteries will be charged via the solar panels in the off grid inverters which are not directly connected with the main power supply line. We have already executed a project in Bihar. Now, we are working on a project in Karnataka. 

Besides, we have solid state frequency converter (400 Hz) for defence establishments and aviation industries to give constant amplitude and frequency. This product was developed indigenously by us when there was sanction on India after Pokhran II Nuclear Testing in May 1998 (as no country was giving this product to India). These frequency converters supply the required output as per the specification and protect the equipment from the irregularities of the commercial mains supply.

We have inverters for industrial applications and we are one of the leading suppliers of industrial inverters in the country.

How has the market evolved post-Covid?

We reached pre-Covid level last year and registered a turnover of Rs 135 crores. This year, we expect to touch Rs 180 crores. UPS, solar and other products (like frequency converter, servo stabilisers, etc) contribute 40-45%, 40-45% and 15-20%, respectively to the revenue. 

What are challenges before manufacturers today?

Land prices have seen a huge jump; thus, acquiring land for expansion has become very costly. Electronic industries cannot survival in small places in the interior. Another challenge is getting skilled manpower. 

How is the UPS market?

After a lull in 2020 due to Covid, the UPS market is looking up. There is a growing demand for modular UPS system. While conventional UPS system of high capacity are bulky, modular UPS is compact. We offer modular UPS system - with high frequency and double conversion on-line technology - that offers flexibility to the customers by offering easy solution to scale up the capacity. 

Are there any new products in the offing?

We are coming up with 2 new products - static voltage stabiliser and EV charger.

We are developing static voltage stabiliser of upto 200 KVA. Conventional stabiliser's voltage correction speed is very slow compared to a static voltage stabiliser. Hence, static voltage stabiliser is considered to be a good replacement to the traditional stabiliser.

We have also developed EV chargers (ranging from 30 KV to 60 KV) for four-wheeler electric vehicles (EV). They are currently undergoing tests. Once we get approval from the certifying agencies it will be launched in the market. We see huge potential for EV chargers as the demand for EVs is going up with proactive government policies and incentives. 

What are your growth plans?

We aim to cross Rs 180 crore this year. We expect new products to give growth propulsion for us in the next year.