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Rugved Avhale - Director - Urja Group
As fossil fuel reserves deplete rapidly, prioritising renewable energy sources has become essential, for fast developing country like India.
India stands at a pivotal moment in its pursuit of sustainable development, with greener energy systems offering transformative opportunities. Renewable energy provides a clean, viable alternative to fossil fuels, significantly reducing the carbon emission and Pollution. India’s geographical positioning as a tropical nation, with approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, makes it ideally suited for harnessing solar power.
In this promising context, Urja Group has emerged as a leading player in the renewable energy industry. Founded in 2017 by the brother and sister duo— Rugved Avhale and Devayani Gaikwad, Urja Group specialises in turnkey solar and electrical infrastructure solutions. Recognised as a trusted leader in clean energy, Urja Group is not only contributing to India’s renewable energy goals but also setting benchmarks for excellence in the industry.
Devayani Gaikwad - Director - Urja Group
Devayani Gaikwad, a first-generation entrepreneur in her family. With a Masters degree and solid foundation in Mechanical Engineering, her passion for innovation was sparked by her husband’s work in the government’s power sector. Further accompanied by her younger brother Rugved, she founded Urja Group, driven by a mission to revolutionise the solar and renewable energy landscape. Rugved is also an Electrical Engineer with specialised training in Renewable Energy.
Starting from the modest town of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Urja Group’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Under the dynamic leadership of Rugved and Devayani, the company has evolved from a small entrepreneurial venture into a leading provider of renewable energy solutions across India. This transformation was fueled by a relentless pursuit of excellence and an unwavering commitment to overcoming challenges.
Today, with a team of 125 members, Urja Group stands as a testament to the founders’ visionary leadership and dedication, having collaborated with industry giants such as Tata, Adani, Reliance, Godrej, L&T Construction, Prozeal and Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited. Their story is one of perseverance, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to making a significant impact in the renewable energy sector.
TEAM
Urja Group is renowned for its exemplary track record in delivering turnkey solar and electrical infrastructure solutions to its esteemed clients. The company focuses on key areas within the Power and renewable energy sector, including solar and electrical Infrastructure, energy conservation and efficiency, and power quality solutions. Leveraging extensive project management experience, Urja Group ensures timely and successful project execution.
Urja Group specialises in offering a range of services, including Solar Power Plant land identification and development, statutory approvals, pile construction, MMS, DC, AC, civil work, fencing, Balance of System (BoS) materials, AMC, and O&M solutions. They also provide Agricultural Solar Pumping supply, installation, commissioning, and AMC services under the Government of India KUSUM Scheme.
In Electrical Infrastructure Solutions, Urja Group has been the front runner in providing Cost effective Electrical Infrastructures for large Real Estate Projects of its valuable clients like Manjeet Pride Group, Disha Group, Bhaishree Ventures, Sara Builders etc.
Their dedicated team of engineers and technocrats drive the focused execution of projects, strictly adhering to safety and quality following best practices and industry standards in the solar and wind energy sectors.
Urja Group aims to deliver the highest quality products and services, prioritising clean and green energy with a focus on safety and sustainability throughout the project lifecycle.
They strive to be a trusted and recognised provider of efficient and green energy solutions. They are focusing on achieving excellence and significant energy cost savings for customers while meeting their business objectives.
“Our vision is to become the most trusted and bankable green energy infrastructure solutions provider in India,” explains Devayani.
Strong core values form the bedrock of an organisation’s operations and success.
Our Stakeholder Is Our Partner: Urja Group views customers, suppliers, employees, investors, and all stakeholders as partners, making them the focus of all business activities.
Professionalism Is Ingrained: The company operates with integrity and passion, positioning itself as a preferred vendor for products and services at competitive rates by using cutting edge advanced technologies.
Sustainability Is a Way of Life: Urja Group is committed to following best practices in the Industry to provide energy and energy infrastructure solutions sustainably.
India has made remarkable strides in the renewable energy sector. However, significant challenges persist, including financing of the projects, shortage of skilled manpower and engineers, high attrition rates among skilled employees, right-of-way issues in solar power evacuation to grids, and limited availability of suitable land for solar projects.
Despite these challenges, Urja Group maintains its competitive edge through strategic measures. The company’s adherence to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications ensures operational excellence. Leveraging digitalisation with ERP solutions like Odoo and custom-built tools enhances efficiency amidst complex project environments.
Urja Group’s in-houseMachinery like Self Loading Concrete Mixtures, RMC Plants, Total Stations for Survey, other advanced plant and machinery facilitate rapid solar plant construction, featuring innovations like the TATA Hitachi 210 LC Excavator mounted DTH piling Machine powered by Atlas Copco XRH 1100 CFM Compressor.
The company excels in delivering projects with precision and speed supported by comprehensive planning and a commitment to quality. Additionally, they prioritise leadership development and career growth for their team members, reinforcing Urja Group’s market position and sustainability in the industry.
Urja Group has achieved significant milestones in Power and the renewable energy sector through diligent work and dedication. Recently, the company successfully completed the construction, power evacuation, and metering and secured all statutory approvals for the 25 MW solar plant project with Mahagenco-Tata Power Solar in Maharashtra. Their exceptional quality and efficiency in project execution have earned them praise from numerous clients.
URJA GROUP has collaborated with leading Solar Pump Tier 1 OEM and System Integrators like Tata, Oswal, CRI, Adani, Shakti under Government of India PM KUSUM Scheme. Total 10000 Off Grid Agricultural Solar pumps installed by URJA GROUP in the last 5 years. Moreover, they have established state of the art Solar Pumping Service Centre and warehouse for inventory of spare parts for all these farmers and their Solar Pump suppliers at Aurangabad in the heart of Maharashtra. Their Farmer centric CRM and Complaint management system takes care of all the complaints of Farmers regarding their solar pumps. They have 20000 Pumps under Annual AMC and solved 7850 complaints promptly in time bound manner in last 5 years.
“We see a very bright future for the solar and renewable energy industry, particularly with the global focus on Net Zero and ESG,” says Rugved. “Solar energy’s abundance, advancing technology, and cost-effectiveness will drive its growth. We are
expanding into the B2C segment, targeting MSMEs, banks, hospitals, and institutions with our Solar PPA Model for consumers with less than 1 MVA loads, an underserved and untapped market.”
Government policies and regulations deeply influence Urja Group’s operations. Rugved emphasises, “There’s a need for innovative financing solutions for Tier-II renewable energy players and support implementing invoice discounting mechanisms to enhance cash flow.”
Also, Tier I infrastructure players should consider hidden costs of idling at Large projects beyond control of Tier II vendors while awarding contracts downline. MSME Players in Tier II are financially vulnerable and affects badly by transferring such costs on them when working at such a low premium and margins. He also calls for streamlined online clearance of statutory approvals with clear timelines and accountability at all levels, believing these measures would significantly support the growth of India’s renewable energy sector.
Highlighting Urja Group’s strategic direction, Devayani adds, “Urja Group aims to become a leading service provider and channel partner for Tier I EPC players, OEMs in upcoming projects like the Agricultural Feeder Solarisation Scheme under KUSUM C of the Government of India, and C&I Open Access PPA Projects across the solar project value chain. This integrated approach underscores our commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions in India and beyond.”
Advising aspiring entrepreneurs, Rugved asserts, “I firmly believe that anyone, like Urja Group, in this day and age, can rise from Tier II or Tier III cities to serve corporate and retail customers nationwide. The possibilities are truly endless. And Urja Group is an example of this”
Devayani continues, “Unwavering Focus and attention to customers should be the cornerstone of every entrepreneurial venture. Discipline, hard work, and effective team building are essential. From my experience, better resource planning, making smart decisions quickly, accurate costing and managing business cash flow are crucial for establishing a strong brand and achieving growth.”
“India is looking at 500 GW of clean energy by 2030. Around 300 GW needs to be added in the next six years. There is huge potential for Everyone in the Green Energy Infrastructure Value Chain. All stakeholders must work together.”
Devayani Gaikwad Director - Urja Group
“In the renewable energy industry, Urja Group will leave a legacy as one of the most trusted and bankable market leaders in electrical and solar energy infrastructure solutions across India. We aim to set a benchmark with forward -thinking approaches and a growth trajectory that aligns with the needs of both our company and our customers.”
Rugved Avhale Director - Urja Group
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