As the Renewable Energy Corporation’s (REC) head of the Indian subcontinent, Rohit Kumar is responsible for building its India operations, growing its module sales in the region and ensuring it acquires a substantial share in key market segments. Under his leadership, REC is set to be the first European manufacturer to achieve an installed base of over 100 MW in the subcontinent in a short span of four years.
Kumar is an electrical engineer from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, and has a professional experience of 18 years. Prior to joining REC, he worked with companies like Wipro EcoEnergy, Moser Baer Photo Voltaics, Delta Electronics and Eaton Electrical.
Commenting on trends in the solar module space, Kumar says, “Solar modules account for 50-55 per cent of the project cost. This puts pressure on module manufacturers to reduce costs, which can be achieved through scaling up volumes, innovative technologies to increase the yield per kW, and improving efficiency, reliability, etc. Of course, this is easier said than done. It is easy to experiment with information in the lab and make announcements. But when it comes to mass production at low costs, REC is one of the few firms that can actually achieve this.”
Kumar’s management strategy is to keep things simple, take one step at a time with an eye on the target, lead by example and inspire his team. “As an experienced and responsible team of professionals, it is important for each member to have clarity on their respective deliverables and to remain committed.”
Spare time is a luxury for Kumar. He uses it to relax over dinner, or watch a movie or a game of cricket or soccer with close friends and family. He enjoys playing with his daughter or having a storytelling session with her to wind down her day. He has recently started focusing on his health and fitness, going for a morning walk followed by a short workout at the gym. For his inner health, he often has introspection sessions with his best friend, his wife, as this helps him reorganise and channelise his energies optimally.
His travel goals are, “a holiday with no mobile, no email and 100 per cent time and attention being devoted to my daughter and my wife”. A cottage in a hill station with a fully equipped kitchenette would be perfect. He would also like to hone his cooking skills. And while he likes to experiment with different cuisines, his mother’s home-cooked fare is his favourite.