"We Ensured CUSTOMERS' MONTHLY EMI Would Be Equal To Or Less Than THEIR ELECTRICITY SAVINGS"

In a conversation with Nitisha from EFY, N.P. Ramesh of Orb Energy outlines the early financing challenges customers faced. He explains how Orb Energy's non-collateralised loans simplified solar adoption. As awareness increased, industries recognised the cost savings, leading to repeat business and system expansions.

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Can you give a brief overview of Orb Energy’s journey since its inception?

Orb Energy was established in 2006 as a solar solutions provider. At first, high solar module prices limited their viability to residential customers. We set up 175 branches across South India, offering solar solutions. The company became profitable within three years, serving nearly 100,000 customers in its first five years. As solar PV module prices declined, we shifted focus to the commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors, particularly SMEs and MSMEs.

What type of customers do you serve today?

We primarily cater to small- and medium-scale businesses, with turnovers ranging from ₹50 million to ₹10 billion. This segment accounts for about 45% of Indian industries. While many competitors target large corporates, we focus on the underserved SMEs and MSMEs.