NGE Green Energy's Sudharman Ezhil on Fixing India's Renewable Infrastructure Gaps

NGE Green Energy is best known for solar projects. But the Chennai-based company is now building what its founder, Sudharman Ezhil, calls the missing pieces of India's renewable energy infrastructure. That means transmission links, storage systems, and land aggregation, areas that often trip up developers long after the panels are mounted.

Ezhil started NGE Green Energy after years in the solar sector. He saw projects stalled not by module prices or policy, but by basic infrastructure gaps. "You can have the cheapest solar power in the world, but if you can't evacuate it, it's useless," he said in an interview with Indian Startup Times.

Beyond the panel

India's renewable energy target of 500 GW by 2030 requires more than just adding generation capacity. The grid must absorb it. Transmission corridors are often congested, and land acquisition remains a slow, litigious process. NGE Green Energy is addressing these by offering integrated solutions: from site identification and land aggregation to transmission connectivity and storage integration.

The company's approach is to de-risk projects for its clients, typically independent power producers and large consumers, by taking on the early-stage headaches. "We don't just sell solar; we sell bankable projects," Ezhil said.

That means NGE Green Energy works with landowners to aggregate parcels, negotiates with state transmission utilities for connectivity, and designs storage systems to smooth output. The company has a team of engineers and land specialists across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat.

Storage as the next frontier

Energy storage is a particular focus. With solar and wind generation growing, grid stability is a concern. Ezhil argues that storage must be built alongside generation, not as an afterthought. NGE Green Energy is piloting battery storage projects with commercial and industrial customers, helping them manage peak demand and reduce reliance on diesel generators.

"Storage is still expensive, but the economics are improving. We're seeing payback periods of five to six years for some customers," Ezhil said. He declined to share specific project sizes or investment figures.

The company is also exploring agrivoltaics, growing crops under solar panels, to make land use more efficient. In Tamil Nadu, NGE Green Energy is working with farmers to test crops like pulses and vegetables under elevated panels. Early results are promising, though Ezhil cautions that scaling will take time.

Policy hurdles

Like many in the sector, Ezhil points to policy inconsistency as a challenge. Open access charges vary by state, and net metering rules change frequently. "States compete for investment, but the rules aren't always clear. Developers need certainty," he said.

He welcomes recent moves by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to streamline approvals, but says implementation on the ground remains uneven. "The intent is good, but the execution needs to catch up."

NGE Green Energy is not alone in this space. Larger players like ReNew Power and Tata Power are also building integrated renewable platforms. But Ezhil believes smaller, agile firms can fill gaps that big companies overlook, particularly in land aggregation and custom storage solutions.

"We're not trying to be everything to everyone. We're focused on the bottlenecks that slow down projects," he said.

The company currently has 50 employees and plans to double that by 2027. It is also looking to raise fresh capital to expand its storage and agrivoltaics pilots. Ezhil declined to comment on fundraising details.

For now, NGE Green Energy's bet is that India's renewable future depends as much on wires and land as on sunlight. "The sun shines for free. The challenge is getting that power to the people who need it," Ezhil said.