Imagine a world where space constraints no longer limit our energy possibilities, and with just a sliver of land, households generate clean energy for decades!

Gujarat-based Shani Pandya offers precisely this with his innovative ‘solar trees’. These marvels are not your typical solar panels that demand vast expanses of terrain; instead, they spread vertically, much like real trees.

Standing tall and sleek, each solar tree can elegantly host up to 45 solar modules on a single pole. In simple terms, a solar tree with a capacity of 20 kilowatts can power six Indian homes in a day!

“By reducing the land requirement from an expansive 2,200 square feet to just 2 square feet, we are redefining how urban spaces can be utilised,” explains Shani, whose groundbreaking innovation is turning heads and changing perspectives.

This pioneering concept has not only sparked interest but also action from municipalities, hospitals, and government projects. Gandhinagar Smart City, for example, has integrated these vertical structures into its cityscape to efficiently manage street lighting costs.

We sat down with the 30-year-old entrepreneur to learn more about his transformative energy solutions that promise to redefine how we power our cities.

For India’s bright future

Shani’s journey into solar innovation began in 2018, following a period spent nurturing an incubator at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, where he had also studied chemical engineering.

Reflecting on his early days of working there, Shani shares, “A solar power plant was set up on six acres of land. The cost of land was more than Rs 100 crore, and the plant alone was Rs 10 crore. The land could not be used for any other activity for the next 30 years.”

It was here that Shani realised the substantial challenge solar energy faced: extensive land........

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