Mica can be developed as a high-performing insulation material

Ankit Bagaria, Director, Ruby Mica Co. Ltd talks about the company’s contribution to green transmission and how it is engineering mica to enhance its insulation capabilities.

What are your views on the government’s plans to promote green transmission? How are you developing products for the same?
When we talk about green transmission, electric vehicle (EV) battery technology automatically comes into the picture. Ruby Mica helps EV manufacturers combat problems like battery leakage, fire that is caused by battery leakages and so on. We help ensure the safety of the equipment or motor vehicle. We encapsulate the battery modules in mica. Mica is versatile in nature; it is fireproof and has a very high dielectric value. So, it will prevent fires and electrical accidents.

What measures are being taken by the industry to ensure the maximum application of green cables for safe transmission?
We work with mica, which is biodegradable in nature and is the greenest insulation material known to mankind. We help save precious lives because in case of a fire, you need emergency systems, alarm systems, lighting systems, etc. to function. We insulate conductors with mica,which helps them to function properly under high flame and high heat conditions for about 180 minutes. So that is our contribution to the wire and cable industry to increase application of green cables.

What are the changes that need to be made in the power grid to carry the extra load for charging EVs?
Once EVs become common, charging stations will increase and draw more power from the grid. To address this issue, the government can promote solar energy by providing subsidies on solar panels, encourage people to install more panels and ensure that solar rooftops are installed all over the country, so that the solar panels can generate electricity and pass on the surplus electricity to the power grid. This will ensure that any demand-supply gaps that are created by charging stations are effectively addressed and fulfilled by solar panels. The government can also buy the surplus electricity from them. In this way, solar panels can become a major source of electricity generation so that wherever there is a supply deficit, we can make up for that deficit through the electricity generated from these solar panels.

What are the challenges being faced by solar energy companies? What should be done to address them?
The challenge in the solar energy sector is the clouds, as you cannot produce electricity at night. It limits power generation. Also, you need a vast area for a solar plant. For example, if you need to generate one kilowatt of electricity, you need an area of about 120 square feet. So, the area required is very high. And that kind of area is nowadays premium as we do not have that kind of area available easily. So, the best solution would be to opt for solar rooftops to generate electricity.

What are your product plans for 2020?
With technological advancements, every company is trying to differentiate. So now if you have to sell successfully, you need to sell something that has some kind of product differentiation. People want something new, so what we’ve been trying to do is improve the capabilities of mica, as it has certain weak points. Through engineering and R&D, we’re eliminating those weak points and enhancing and enriching the mica to allow it to perform better in all aspects. We eliminate the organic impurities that are found in mica and double its electrical strength. Since the components are shrinking in size now, their demand for handling high heat and electricity is also increasing. Our mica will allow the insulation to be thinner but more effective and have higher performance. So, these are my plans for the future; we are trying to make something which is already good into a better, more high-performing material.
We insulate conductors with mica, which helps them to function properly under high flame and high heat conditions for about 180 minutes
Ankit Bagaria, Director,Ruby Mica Co. Ltd