\nVictim of Stellar Success<\/strong>
\nIndia\u2019s rapid solar-power expansion has outpaced the supporting infrastructure needed to use it effectively. In states like Rajasthan, surplus solar electricity cannot be stored or transmitted to demand centres because of inadequate battery capacity and transmission lines. As a result, large amounts of renewable energy are being wasted and financially damaging developers.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
I knew that oil futures traded at negative prices during the Covid pandemic<\/a> but I’d a major TIL moment when I read that the price of electricity fell to zero on Indian Energy Exchange<\/em> this month!<\/p>\n Adding renewable generation capacity without building transmission systems is yet another example of the “build and they will come” mindset that plagues many Indian businesses.<\/p>\n It stems from the flawed belief that whatever is manufactured will sell automatically. Equally prevalent in public and private sectors, this misconception harkens back to the socialistic regime aka License Quota Raj<\/em> in India before the liberalization of 1991, and is exacerbated by a deep-rooted cultural bias that misses – even downplays – the need to sell what is produced.<\/p>\n This mindset manifests itself in many places like tech founders issuing rallying calls to “Build for India!” without having any clue about where they will sell their products and services (and how much revenues and profits they will earn in the process).<\/p>\n We need to get rid of this mindset by spreading the awareness of sales, marketing and distribution functions among the general populace, if not also among business owners. In trying to catch up with the tech mojo of America, let’s not forget that kids are taught how to sell lemonade in USA while they’re still in school, and that a median American tech company spends two dollars in sales and marketing<\/strong><\/a> for every dollar in product, engineering and R&D.<\/p>\n Contrary to what the article says, it’s not necessary to add batteries to store unevacuated solar power. When Iceland had a surplus of geothermal \/ hydroelectric energy that could not be evacuated to the power grid a few years ago, it didn’t waste it. Instead, it used the electricity to mine Bitcoin. Sorry to belabor the lemonade aphorism but this reminds me of the old saying, “If life gives you lemons, learn to make lemondade”!<\/p>\n Since then, the price of BTC has nearly doubled. The tactic transformed what threatened to be a disastrous waste of electricity into a humongous source of profits for the Northern European nation!<\/p>\n Regulations permitting, India should follow the same playbook instead of wasting solar power that cannot be evacuated to the grid. Even if BTC goes to zero – and that’s a big IF – there will be no residual loss compared to the status quo<\/em> that amounts to complete loss.<\/p>\n I wish the oped had avoided rambling on about planning, coordination, and infrastructure, and instead ended on a crisp note by noting that India’s solar crisis is a failure of distribution. That’s the truth. There’s no need to sugarcoat it. At some point, it’s necessary to call a spade a spade in order to accelerate people’s understanding of the importance of sales and distribution. Now is a as good a time as any when the nation is racing to hit the five trillion GDP mark.<\/p>\n Thanks and Regards.<\/p>\n KETHARAMAN SWAMINATHAN A condensed version of the above letter was published by Economic Times<\/em> in its edition dated 29 May 2026.<\/p>\n In case the op-ed<\/a><\/strong> referenced above is paywalled, see following exhibit.<\/p>\n
\nThis has reference to the op-ed entitled\u00a0Victim Of Its Stellar Success<\/strong><\/a> by Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar in today’s\u00a0Economic Times<\/em>\u00a0(see sidebar for recap<\/em>).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gtm360.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/solar-panel-fi.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gtm360.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/skr-fake-signature-cropped.jpg\")
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\n28 May 2026<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gtm360.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SKR-ET-LETTER-29MAY2026-PREVENT-SOLAR-WASTAGE.jpg\")
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gtm360.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ET-OPED-28MAY2026-SWAMINOMICS-SOLAR-POWER-WASTAGE-NO-DISTRIBUTION.jpg\")
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