R. Narayan Kumar’s career has been largely built around harnessing the natural elements – air, wind and sun. He has spent 16 years of his 27-year-long career in the renewable energy space and before that was engaged in the telecom business.
He is currently India head of development for Vestas Wind Systems. His roÂle inÂÂÂvolves the conventional project deÂveÂÂlÂoÂpÂÂmeÂnt aspects that need to be bleÂnÂded witÂh business origination and financial anÂÂÂalysis and evaluation. His background in finance and general management has prÂoved useful in this. Over the past 30 mÂoÂÂÂÂnths, he has been spearheading the coÂmÂpany’s front-end development proÂcess, including wind, grid, land and permits.
Kumar began his renewable energy inÂÂnings by building biorefineries in the US, then moved on to the wind segment in Europe and the solar EPC business in the UK, Japan, ItÂaly, GermaÂny and SEA markÂeÂts. Prior to his VeÂsÂtas stint, KuÂÂmar was asÂsoÂciÂated with AcÂciona EnÂergy’s InÂdÂia business and with HinÂdÂuÂsÂtan ClÂeÂan EÂnÂÂÂergy’s internatioÂnal soÂlÂar bÂuÂsiness as profit centre head.
According to him, the wind segment has not been given its due importance over the past few years and India’s renewable energy progression will not be satisfactory unless the wind segment is given proper attention. Greater tranÂsparency and simplification are needed, especially in land acquisition, beÂsiÂdes grid integration policies for onÂshore wind. Evolving a measurable roadÂmap for the first set of offshore turbines and providing a sustainable business case for repowering wind turbines, inÂcluding framing policies for the remoÂval or reuse of old or inoperative wind turbines, are also crucial.
Kumar’s management stÂyle is characterised by a focus on the big picture while addÂressing micro details as reqÂuirÂed. He believes in having smÂart and result-oriented peÂÂople on his team and, on prÂinÂciple, does not micromaÂnage them. HavÂing a clear goal, setting targets and measuring output are essential elements of his management technique.
Kumar is a fitness enthusiast. He is alÂso interested in Indian classical music and reading autobiographies. He enjoys mentoring deserving first-generation students and entrepreneurs, who sometimes fiÂnd it difficult to approach corporate prÂoÂfessionals. Kumar’s long-term goal is to remain active in the reÂnÂeÂwable enÂergy space, especially in emÂÂeÂrÂging areas such as PtX, green hydroÂgÂen and storage technologies. He is looking forward to being a part of India’s first offshore project, which is set to script history.