Clean
energy, also known as green energy or renewable energy, is produced from
renewable sources of energy such as water, wind, solar energy and coal so as to
help preserve energy and the environment at the same time. It is the kind of energy,
which meets the present requirements of the planet without compromising on its future
requirements. The use of clean energy actively promotes the reduction of global
warming and greenhouse gas emissions, which are the leading environmental problems
of today. Let’s have a closer look at the main issues the clean energy sector
is currently facing.
The Panelists:
Mr. Deepak Saksena’s qualification as a pharmacist is fortified by 29 years of solid experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Having worked in the water sector too, Mr. Deepak is now handling the product ‘Pure it’ for Hindustan Unilever Ltd. and is looking to target the bottom of the pyramid in terms of financial standing.
Mr. Ashok Athre is an engineer and an IITian and has currently established himself as a successful entrepreneur and the founder of Transparent Energy Systems, a venture that is worth over Rs. 200 crores at present.
Dr. Uma Rajarathnam has a Masters and a Doctorate in Environmental Science and is currently heading Enzen Global Solutions. Dr. Uma has 22 years of rich experience in providing expert solutions in the areas of the environment and energy efficiency.
Raising
awareness about the importance of water purifier amongst the masses in the
bottom of the pyramid is the one of the core issues of today. People do not see
the need for clean energy. For instance, let us take a look at home clean
energy. One of the most prominent products of this sector is water purifiers. Water
purifier companies in India are currently facing a demand side issue. As India
is a developing nation, it goes without saying that a lot of people live below
the poverty line, earning as much as a hundred rupees a day. Needless to say,
survival is primary and hygiene is secondary for these people. The correct
approach would be to change the mind-set of these people and make them realize
the importance of clean energy.
Statistics state that around 85% visits to hospitals are made because of water borne diseases and most of the time people end up paying for their medical bills from their own pocket.
If you average out the total amount of money paid as hospital bills for one entire family, it amounts to more than the amount required to purchase a water purifier. Hence, to tackle this problem, water purifier companies have partnered with micro finance institutions to avail EMI payment methods to those who cannot afford direct down payments. This approach revolves around the concept of “prevention is better than cure”
This issue mainly depends on how an entrepreneur can create the next set of entrepreneurs within the organization itself. It is important to groom your employees to the highest standards of technical and managerial proficiency. However, doing this can pose another problem. With all sorts of growth opportunities, retaining these highly qualified employees becomes the next problem. This is where passion and promise comes into the picture. When it comes to scaling up a clean tech business, another important thing is to face challenges and take bold steps. The more you believe in your decisions, the more likely you are to succeed.
When it comes to pricing clean tech products, there is no one rule to the game. A clean tech company deals with a variety of different customers and each category should be approached uniquely.
The input cost of a clean tech product can get pretty high and hence, it is important to stay transparent in the eye of the consumer.
It is important to make the consumer believe that the values that are shown on paper are available in real life too. Hence, it can be concluded that it’s all about building confidence in the customer that you’ve brought value to the table.
A
major hunk of the Indian population does not feel the need to buy a water
purifier. Hence, raising awareness about the importance of clean water is the
need of the hour. However, there is good news. The awareness has shot up
recently which reflects the progress of rural India. People have realized the
need for prevention and are currently giving importance to the idea of clean
energy. In a recent survey, it was found that over 70% of people agreed to buy
water purifiers once they were told about its benefits. However, this number
soon came down, thus exposing a gap between intention and action on behalf of
the customers. Apart from this, it is established that rural people look for a
brand they can trust and this trust can be built by a healthy combination of
two way interactions, post sales service and aspirational value. With a blend
of demand generation and rural marketing, we should see a significant rise in
the use of clean energy very soon.
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