Solar Data Systems has expanded its cooperation with its Chennai, India partner iPLON, after several years of successful collaboration. Their combined goal is to launch the iPLON brand for IoT SCADA & Power Control in the Americas. Furthermore, they plan to increase market awareness of and engagement with other services, specifically the Solar Monitoring as a Service (SolarMaaS) approach. Additionally, Solar Data Systems will handle iPLON India’s international sales.
iPLON, which has historically been privately held, was recently purchased by ezee Energy GmbH, a German-based wholesale renewable energy solutions company focused on photovoltaics and heat pumps. Unlike other wholesalers, ezee Energy offers various services including PV plant monitoring. iPLON has been a long-term business partner of well-known companies like Tata and Avaada in India, offering solutions and services with focus on renewable energy generation in a controlled environment (e.g., grid stability, zero export systems, microgrids, IOT SCADA, Power Plant Controller, supply side and load management). From the beginning, the iPLON team convinced with their quality of services and monitoring services portfolio in various international business segments and verticals.
The iPLON team is comprised of nearly 70 highly-qualified IT and renewable energy experts. Together, they are responsible for monitoring an installed volume of over 2 GW with more than 2,000 rooftops as per today, as well as 150+ microgrid systems, and over 1 GW is dedicated to Annual Maintenance Contracts for PV Asset Management.
Considering the ongoing trends and rollercoaster trajectory of the US solar industry, solar energy is expected to be the largest source of generating capacity by 2050, despite economic challenges in the near future. As the industry booms over the next few years, there will be a disparate number of experienced technicians to meet the increased number of plants and monitoring needs.
“We’ve become more than familiar with the ‘solarcoaster’ industry over the last 14 years and counting, and we’re prepared for anything. We vow to exceed our customers’ expectations in helping maintain their long-term solar investments, and we know what’s necessary to be a solid and reliable partner. By adding the invaluable expertise of the iPLON team to our own, we can offer even greater benefits and added values to our customers, not only for the Solar-Log brand, but also to our additional SolarMaaS products and services.
We’re also proud to support iPLON’s approach and the important role of women at iPLON India, which is not a standard in the country. Victor Thamburaj, the former CEO of iPLON, managed to maintain many women as colleagues by implementing flexible work models that respect the foundation of their families. This preserved their precious expertise, which would otherwise disappear from the working world. This is practical support of women and fits well with our values.”
Silvia Blumenschein-Schuetz, Solar Data Systems CEO
Victor Thamburaj, former owner and CEO (far right) and his wife Lisa (center).
Photographer: Dheepak Ramesh
Solar Data Systems supplies the tools necessary for increased solar production and revenue, plus the services and support to ensure plant health and efficiency. Since 2010, Solar Data Systems has supplied the solar industry with solutions for monitoring, visualization, evaluation, troubleshooting and control. Solar Data Systems is also known as Solar-Log North America.
