G P Tronics Pvt Ltd, incorporated in the year 1978 in Kolkata, has since inception engaged in various activities in the domain of power electronics and allied services. The company is betting big on solar inverters and UPS systems, having commissioned a new plant recently. Saikat Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, responded to the IPF Questionnaire for this special section. Excerpts…

What is the difference between an inverter used in a regular UPS system and a solar inverter?

There is a basic difference since the applications are different.

The inverter, which is more commonly known as home UPS system, is basically used for running domestic appliances like lights, fans, TV, fridge, etc. A regular UPS is also used for supporting computers, IT products or in critical application of electrical product, which is very sensitive to the quality of power and transfer time during mains failure.

A solar inverter, on the other hand, normally charges the battery from solar PV cells with a priority only in case of battery charge level going below permissible limit switch on to grid for charging. In a solar inverter, the design parameter is critical so that it can perform uninterrupted in remote areas where access is difficult. Also a solar power plant module has a life of about 25 years and hence the inverter life should be 10-15 years at the minimum. A solar inverter can also run domestic gadgets, air conditioners and IT equipment, etc., simultaneously.

What are the various types of solar inverters manufactured by G P Tronics?

Our product range comprises:

> Off-grid/hybrid solar inverter
> Online solar UPS system, and
> Solar pump inverter.

What are the main application areas for solar inverters? Do these facilitate grid connectivity which itself is a grey area?

The Off-Grid/Hybrid Solar Inverter is suitable to run domestic gadgets like light, fan, small pump, fridge where there is no grid connectivity or grid is available with black out, voltage going beyond the permissible limit like 135-265 V AC.

The Online Solar UPS is suitable to run any gadget including critical applications like running the petrol pump dispensers, air-conditioners, etc.

The Solar Pump Inverter can pump water from a depth of 400 ft with discharge rate of up to 2000 ltr/sunny day.

Though solar (PV) is now getting increased attention, it has not yet captured the popular imagination, especially in domestic area. What are the reasons?

The basic reason is high capital initial investment whereas recurring expenditure is almost nil. In comparison solar power generation is cheaper and breakeven is in between 4-5 yrs and balance period of power is free.

Solar power can certainly be adopted at the domestic level, but this needs more awareness through appropriate government policies. The European model of preferential tariff for export to the grid will create interest among all sections of electricity users.

The success of solar power will really be decided on economic criteria alone. Any scope for policy changes here? How can these products be affordable without an element of subsidy?

No, once the users understand the benefits they will go for their own solar power plant for commercial benefits. Low rate of interest of borrowing for purchase of this power plant will create more interest as the breakeven will be faster and there is additional return after the payback. This could be a model of successful use of solar power to boost the national grid thereby slowing down installation of new (conventional) power plants.

An inverter is but an inverter – small number of organised players, a large unorganised sector. What is the G P Tronics USP?

There are a number of design changes between an ordinary inverter and solar inverter like high efficiency thereby reducing heat loss and enhancing service life of transformer and semi-conductor devices. Use of stainless steel screws, nuts, bolts, studs, etc., is mandatory for longer life.

Following GMP in air-conditioned environment for production and also use of ICT (In-Circuit Tester) add value to the product quality. The use of 100 kW solar power plant and testing all solar equipment on real time basis add to the USP of G P Tronics.

How strong/effective is your sales & service network?

We have own Channel Partners across the country with trained manpower both for sales & service.

The company has sizeable exports. What is the ratio of domestic/export market? Is there any scope to expand in exports with ‘Make in India’ initiative?

We have set up our new factory only six months ago and are presently designing a product, which can monitor its own performance with in-built SCADA system. This is fully digitalised and with competitive pricing, but with highest number of parameter monitoring, will help us capture the market. At this point of time we are concentrating on domestic market.

What is the Company’s history?

G P Tronics Pvt Ltd (GPT) is a 37-year-old company based in Kolkata and deals in power electronic products with solar power equipment like inverters, MPPT chargers, data loggers, etc. A state-of-the-art second manufacturing unit with semi-automatic production line and an In-Circuit Tester from Japan was inaugurated early this year which is fully powered by a 100 kW solar power plant catering to the entire need of the factory, which is fully air-conditioned, measuring around 18,000 sq.ft, making it carbon neutral and green factory.

GPT has its own R&D unit and it manufactures inverters with off-grid and hybrid applications with capacities of 1 kVA-10 kVA. The company, which is ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO 14001: 2004 certified, is also empanelled with MNRE as an approved manufacturer for solar inverters.

What are the company’s achievements?

The company has received several awards and accolades, including:

> ICC Environment Excellence Award 2012
> ASSOCHAM 2nd SMEs Excellence Award 2014, and
> The 4th FICCI Quality Systems Excellence Awards for Manufacturing – 2015 (First prize in the Small Size category confirmation received, award ceremony on 23rd September 2015).

Any breakthrough product launch that made a difference?

Yes, we have a product in the R&D stage, which can create a big difference.

How is present business environment?

Change of government policy regarding subsidy and implementation of new policy retarding the growth as evident from statistics.

What are the future plans?

We have a few negotiations being conducted on how to harness new technology, which can supplement the market needs. These have high business potential.