StartUp Circle: How is this CleanTech StartUp Skilancer Solar helping to solve water loss issues in the RE space?

Water is vital to every living being, and earth comprises two-thirds of it. However, over the years, with the advent of industrialization and increased use of advanced agricultural methods, water is being wasted at an alarming rate. The Renewable Energy space which is being promoted as a green energy source is also utilizing large amounts of water to clean surfaces of solar panels. This is in contradiction to the value it is generating via giving out solar power. Therefore, there are Startups like Skilancer Solar.

Now imagine: In order to clean a 1 PV module o a solar panel, two litres of water are required. Usually, a solar panel comprises of 32, 36, 48, 60, 72, or 96 cells so you can calculate the amount of water lost while cleaning. Other than that, the modules have to be cleaned regularly to maintain efficient energy output otherwise there is a loss of energy due to the soiling of the surface.

So, we had a conversation with CleanTech startup Skilancer Solar who are innovating at the helm of the renewable energy revolution. Their product can solve for problems of water scarcity, efficient use of energy and low-cost robotic cleaning of solar panels which is a big factor in the coming years as in situations like these where manual/traditional forms of cleaning can be a problem for industries. These robots can establish better practices and can be monitored from home/office.

Excerpt of the interview with Mr Neeraj Kumar and Mr Manish Das, Co-Founders of Skilancer Solar is given below:

1. Robots cleaning solar panels, that is something very innovative, at least for Indians. How did you come up with the idea?

Neeraj: After working in the solar industry, I realized that there is a big problem that solar industries around the world face which is the cleaning of the solar panels. A lot of industries in India utilize traditional/manual methods of cleaning which are less optimal, use water inefficiently, require manpower and the cleaning frequency is also less, this often results in decreased power output by the solar plants. So, we decided to bring about a change in the solar industry by developing AI robots. These can clean solar panels and are safe and reliable, energy independent, water-free, autonomous, internet-connected and can do independent daily cleaning

2. Tell us about the journey and the team.

Manish: I completed my B.Tech in Electronics and Instrumentation in 2009; and have 10+ years of experience in sales, marketing, and business development across leading companies like Godrej, Hilti, and Snapdeal. Having core expertise in business development, I take care of business, investor relations, and operations at Skilancer Solar.

Neeraj: I completed my B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT-Jodhpur in the year 2015. After which I gained 4+ years of experience in the solar industry before co-founding Skilancer Solar. Since I come with a technical background, I am responsible for research and development, manufacturing, and installations at Skilancer Solar. Actually, I developed the solar panel cleaning robot as a part of my final year college project.

Upon working in the solar industry, I realised that this college project could be utilised to solve a major problem which is being encountered by every solar plant across the world. So we took a step to revolutionise the solar industry with their proprietary robot which plays an integral role in the maintenance of solar plants.

3. How are you reaching out to people to raise awareness about water consumption on solar panels?

Neeraj: We regularly post and endorse articles on LinkedIn so that the message is spread via our network and we are also reaching out to the media and industry leaders to raise awareness on the issue.

4. Can you explain the process about how your robots save water?

Manish: Our focus is on dry cleaning, you can attach the robots to the PV modules. We design them as such that a rolling brush traverses along with an array of solar panels. The device is attached with rollers that grip the frame of the panels and use them as rails to roll along with the panel. The system then cleans them using a spinning brush to clean any dust or debris.

Ideally, the device would not use water and would not need to be connected to any source of water. The entire system is controlled by an onboard microcontroller which is paired with a dedicated motor controller. This control system can fully automate the system’s cleaning process with the ability to schedule cleanings at any given time.

5. Have you collaborated with the government? Especially when 60 of India's cities are now "Sun Cities"?

Neeraj: We have collaborated with the Andhra Pradesh Government as the government has a very clear vision of solar.

6. Saltwater is plenty. It's the freshwater that we should not waste. Why would someone use these robots when cities like Gandhinagar, Mumbai etc have a lot of saltwater supply?

Manish: As stated correctly that we have abundant salt water, but the only problem with salt water is that it leaves water scales when the water evaporates. So if you use salt water to clean the panels then after less than 1 year, the panels will have a salt coating. This will lead to a massive drop in the power efficiency of the solar panels. All the solar panels which you clean use RO water as it does not leave water scales on the panels.

7. Due to Coronavirus, sanitisers are necessary. How do you look out to maintain these current needs?

Neeraj: We believe our product has never been more relevant than it is now. This is because traditional methods of cleaning solar panels are difficult to manage in a situation like this. Being dependent on manpower to clean your panels is not safe and efficient especially during this COVID-19 pandemic and leads to water loss also. Since our robots are autonomous, you can control them sitting in your office/home and there is no issue of sanitization.

8. How are you competing with the other upcoming cleantech startups?

Manish: Our competitors at the moment are Ecoppia, Solabot and Boson Robotics. Our technology is more convenient and cost-effective than our competitors. The robot of Skilancer Solar is retrofittable. This means there is no need to add extra railing or support structure like other companies.

The robot is fully programmable and automatic so no dependency on manpower. The Sensor packed robot provides many unique features. These include theft prevention, self troubleshoot, Malfunction alert, weather condition alerts and monitoring etc.

9. What has been Skilancer Solar 's business growth?

Neeraj: Since the incorporation in 2017, we have served almost all the Tier 1 companies in the solar industry. And we have a great portfolio of satisfied customers. Within this short period, we have been able to expand our operations in Qatar.

10. How is CleanTech contributing to the industry?

Manish: Around the world, the lockdown measures to contain the pandemic have led to economic contraction and a significant drop in energy consumption including electricity, gas, and oil. CEOs, experts, and policymakers are still taking stock of the impact of COVID-19 on the energy landscape and what it means for the ongoing transition to sustainable energy.

Renewable energy provides an opportunity for 'building back better'. Many people all over the world believe that the coronavirus pandemic is a result of us not being responsible for the environment. This is where Cleantech startups come in. They can solve problems that not only impact our environment but also our daily lives.

11. Are you expanding in other cleaning areas like Public restrooms and railway stations since the area has manual hazards as well as poses water problems?

Neeraj: We are in the development phase of introducing a robot which will clean the building facade. Cleaning the building facade poses a huge risk to human lives. These people hang on a cable suspended hundreds of feet above the ground. This makes their safety more vulnerable.  As of now, we are not thinking of expanding towards cleaning of restrooms and railway stations.

12. What have you planned for the future?

Manish: We are looking to expand our operations to the Middle East. We have already established our presence in Doha and we are also looking to diversify our product portfolio.

Funding of Skilancer Solar

The cleantech startup recently raised funding from Venture Catalysts. They also had raised an undisclosed round before from Alfa Ventures.