A tech initiative in Pune hopes to make a dent in the solar market with technology that can be used for focusing solar energy efficiently
The idea sounds audacious. Tell any large global glass company that you can make solar reflectors using bathroom mirrors at a fraction of the present cost, and they will either laugh or remain unmoved. The idea of these reflectors, which convert sun?s rays into solar energy, struck 21-year-old Swaroop Ravichandran, fascinated with the concept of solar energy, in school. Even though people termed his idea ?science fiction?, he nurtured it, taking it along with him to engineering college. And it was here at the Jansons Institute of Technology in Coimbatore where he got the chance to develop his idea and turn it into a workable product ready for the market. Since then, Ravichandran has been demonstrating the technology at various science shows and competitions. Technobots, the name Ravichandran has thought for his company, hopes to make a dent in the solar market with its technology called VFCLFR. Through VFCLFR, a new type of reflector can be developed that can be used for focusing solar energy efficiently.
Ravichandran?s idea of converting the bathroom mirror into a reflector makes it a cheap option. The existing systems in the market cost around four times of what Ravichandran is producing and that is the kind of value he promises to bring to the market. ?We took the risk of developing the prototype using our own money to show that it actually works. Fortunately, the prototype was a success,? he says. What they do is change the profile of the magnifying glass without changing the distance, and it becomes a reflector. The focal length is customised to meet specific requirements, says Ravichandran. Existing solutions in the market are factory-made, non-customised and permanent, besides being five to six times costlier, Ravichandran says. Though photovoltaic cells can be used too, there is a cost difference of R50,000 per KW. Besides these cells need more space.
To take the project forward, Ravichandran got his friends involved?co-founders Ashwin and Sharad Kumar, aged 20 and 21, respectively?to bring in other complementary skills. They still have another year to finish their engineering course and are using the college to incubate their start-up. Ravichandran?s mentor, Vasudevan A, wants him to build a business plan around the idea and start working on it.
Technobots will focus on manufacturing small-size applications. To start with, they will be using the technology to fulfill the need of hot water at various college hostels and are planning to install tiny power plants in colleges. They are working on a prototype with plans to go commercial in six months. What works for them is the fact that government regulations stipulate such solar energy installations at college hostels.
Ravichandran, who wants to start the company before getting out of college, hopes to get some venture capitalists on board. A solar thermal manufacturing company has already shown interest. ?People in this field understand and appreciate this technology and say this is breaking new ground,? says Ravichandran, who wants to have seven small reflector manufacturing units to reach all parts of the country and is now patenting the tracking and reflecting process. However, the challenge of finance remains, and it remains to be seen if he can convince investors to fund the project.