Digitalisation and localisation are driving the secondary switchgear market

Ajith Kumar Kesavan, Business Development, Director Asia – Renewables, Lucy Electric India Pvt Ltd. In an interview with EPR Magazine.

Discussing the impacts of digitalisation in the electrical sector, Ajith Kumar Kesavan, Business Development, Director Asia – Renewables, Lucy Electric India Pvt Ltd., tells EPR about their commitment to offering suitable products and solutions to its customers that ensure reliable access to quality power.

Can you brief us about Lucy Electric and its USP?

Lucy Electric has a heritage of more than 200 years in the industry, with a global presence in more than 56 countries. We deal in secondary switchgear, our leading product portfolio with a considerable presence in the automation segment with RTUs and combats secondary substations and micro-substations. With this kind of global presence, Lucy today has over 1000 employees and is in the number one position in the market with an installed base of 100,000 plus units with reliable power.

Today, we have more than 1,000 employees across the globe. We are at number one right now, holding the primary unit market in India with an installed base of 100,000 plus units and growing with reliable power. That’s what we’ll see electricity for now.

What kind of new initiatives has been taken by Lucy Electric towards digitalisation?

The government of India’s vision 2047, the 25-year plan, has already begun, and Lucy is coping to meet market demand for the “25-year plan”. Digitalisation is one of the core requirements today. The government has already addressed a couple of primary concerns about digitalisation, including access to energy, energy transition and cyber security.

Digitalisation is one of the core areas right now, and Lucy is making all possible efforts to ensure equipping its customers to address such critical aspects. We believe customers should take advantage of the present situation by obtaining the right product and solution to address the market requirements by providing real solutions, enabling a technically competent and enhanced one.

Lucy has a clear roadmap. We are already set to introduce a new product named “the Germany 4 RTU” that addresses all concerns related to digitalisation and supports the secondary distribution automation system in the market. Many utilities are already experiencing our product and its advantages.

How ready are we to deal with the intense cyber-attacks? 

Almost a year ago, Mumbai witnessed a complete blackout situation. Our energy experts termed it a result of a cybersecurity breach, but in conclusion, nothing of the sort came to light.

Various cybersecurity companies, including product manufacturers and technology providers, focus on stringent security networks by developing and offering products and solutions designed, tested, and approved following IEC standards. And Lucy Electric is committed to providing digitalised solutions created and tested according to industry standards.

When it comes to the external market, however, cyber security is still a significant issue. People nowadays are intelligent enough to overcome the Cybernet’s security barriers. Even though this is a severe issue, I am sure many businesses will develop concrete ways to address these concerns.

What kind of R & D is being done at Lucy to obtain more efficiency and precision in its products?

We have a fantastic R & D centre in Vadodara, with 70,000 square feet of space and more than 300 individuals working to fulfil worldwide standards. From an Indian perspective, we are delighted to help the entire world by offering the correct product and solution for a developed market in terms of digital, sector-specific secondary solutions and distribution automation systems to all our clients. 

Our R&D Centre in Vadodara, which has more than 180 years of expertise, has professionals from all levels trying to prove their worth and guarantee that they deliver the proper solution and product in the market. Lucy Electric’s R&D centres are all located in India.

How do you look at India’s future of localisation and domestic manufacturing?

Our products are created in India and for India, and we strictly adhere to the “Make in India” concept. Even the Indian government’s PLI plan has significantly impacted the manufacturing sector. The PLI plan is highly beneficial to all firms, and we are entirely using it.

How is your organisation contributing to the idea of integrating renewable energy into the grid systems? We have a wide range of products to support our customers and ensure smooth access between the grid and renewable energy. Presently, access to grid systems with labelled switchgear is a concern. Our AG 36 kV solution and the edges of our new ages 12 kV solution address the impending requirement for the same. Today, we offer energy access to our customers and our products are provided to ensure that our customers are fully equipped with the appropriate and suitable products and solutions as and when required. With more than 784 MW pouring through our switch gears to the Indian grid, we have an unlimited selection of solutions to guarantee that the renewable market is serviced.

What is your view on the increasing demand for sustainable and reliable power supply?

The United Nations has placed sustainability at the core focus of the power sector. Lucy works on three key pillars: people, progress, and engineering intelligent solutions. Hence, we have adopted sustainable technologies and are strongly committed to the UN’s sustainable goals.