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India’s solar industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. Solar power capacity has grown from around 3 GW in 2014 to 168 GW as of August 31, 2026. But as deployment accelerates, developers and asset owners face a critical question: Are today’s solar plants sufficiently prepared for increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather?
According to the Climate India 2025 report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth, India recorded extreme weather events on 270 of the 273 days between January 1 and September 30, 2025. Almost 99% of the first nine months of the year saw an extreme weather event somewhere in the country.
India experienced extreme temperatures alongside very heavy rainfall, while solar projects have also faced challenges such as waterlogging, flooding and damage from strong winds. Such conditions highlight the importance of incorporating weather resilience into solar system design from the outset.
This pv magazine webinar will explore how tracker design, intelligent stowing, weather forecasting, and real-time data can protect yield, uptime and asset life. It will also examine how larger-format modules are reshaping tracker design, and how robust mechanical engineering and intelligent controls can work together to improve PV plant resilience.
Alex Roedel, Vice President, Design and Engineering, Nextpower, will share a technical presentation on Nextpower’s approach to tracker design and weather resilience, and how its NX Horizon trackers and NX Navigator control and monitoring software offer a solution for extreme weather management for utility solar plants. The session will also feature a panel discussion offering high level perspectives on how solar projects can deal with the growing risk of extreme weather.
Webinar content
- How tracker design is evolving to withstand increasingly severe weather conditions
- How structural engineering, dynamic loading and intelligent stowing can help mitigate extreme weather risks
- How forecasting, sensors and real-time data enable more proactive asset protection
- How larger, heavier modules are influencing tracker aerodynamics and structural requirements
- How developers can assess the value of weather resilience in terms in terms of energy yield, downtime, asset lifetime, insurance and project bankability
- Q&A
Alex Roedel serves as vice president of design and engineering at Nextpower, where he leads the company’s global project engineering team and serves as a customer-facing technical lead for developers, owners, and EPCs worldwide.
Roedel has over 18 years of engineering experience, including more than 16 years in the solar energy industry. He has spent 11 years with Nextpower, where he has held a series of leadership roles across design and engineering and leads a team of nearly 200 engineers across Nextpower’s global offices. During his tenure, he has contributed to the design and engineering of more than 150 GW of installed solar projects around the world.
Roedel has authored several solar industry publications, spoken at major industry conferences, cited and interviewed in many renewable energy articles, and is a recognized expert in utility-scale solar design and engineering. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Shri Sivakumar V. Vepakomma joined SECI as Director (Power System) on 30 August 2024. He has 34 years of experience in the power sector, covering project construction, commissioning, O&M, commercial and regulatory matters, and energy and efficiency management. He has significant experience in the renewable energy sector, particularly in solar, wind, hybrid and energy storage solutions.
Prior to joining SECI, he served as Chief General Manager, NTPC Green Energy Limited, where he was responsible for engineering, contracts, commercial and regulatory functions, business development and carbon trading. He was also the first CEO of the joint venture between NTPC Green Energy Limited and IOC Limited.
Among his notable contributions, he was instrumental in developing and commissioning the 40 MW Ayodhya City Solar Project in record time. He also conceptualized and commissioned the 100 kW floating solar demonstration project at NTPC Kayamkulam, which was among the early initiatives that paved the way for large-scale floating solar projects in India.
Academically, he is an Engineering Graduate and holds an M.Sc. in Energy Systems and Environment from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, as a British Chevening Scholar. He has also completed a Post Graduate Certification Program in Project Management from IIM Indore and is a Certified Energy Auditor accredited by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
Ketan Dave serves as the Executive Director – Engineering & Quality at Evren, bringing over 30 years of extensive experience in the design and engineering of renewable energy and substation projects across India.
He has successfully led engineering for more than 15 GW of solar, wind, and hybrid renewable projects, including the world’s largest single-location renewable energy project at Khavda, Gujarat. Ketan has deep expertise in power system planning, concept and detailed engineering, technology selection, grid integration, and substation engineering (AIS & GIS) up to 765 kV.
At Evren, Ketan leads the Engineering & Quality function, driving end-to-end engineering strategy, design optimization, and standardization across projects. He plays a key role in technology selection, grid compliance, and ensuring efficient, cost-effective project delivery through strong cross-functional coordination and robust quality frameworks.
Over the course of his career, he has led multidisciplinary engineering teams and delivered large-scale renewable and transmission infrastructure projects, with a strong focus on innovation, efficiency, and adherence to global standards.
Abhilash Kumar brings more than 20 years of experience across the power sector, spanning hydro, thermal, and renewable energy. His experience includes engineering and renewable energy installations across India, including floating solar projects.
Prior to joining Jakson, Abhilash worked in the engineering division of NTPC Ltd. and with NTPC Green, contributing to the development and execution of power and renewable energy projects.
In his current role as GM, Engineering Design at Jakson, he brings this broad engineering experience to the company’s renewable energy portfolio and is currently focused on supporting projects and opportunities across India and international markets.
Abhilash Pamulaparthy brings two decades of product design, engineering, and leadership experience to his role as Sr. Director, Product & Engineering at Nextpower. He leads the product vision, roadmap, and launch strategy for Nextpower’s solar tracker solutions, translating customer and market needs into technologies designed for utility-scale solar.
Abhilash began his career as a mechanical engineer at Navistar Inc. in 2005 and has since held leadership roles spanning engineering, sales, and marketing. This cross-functional experience gives him a broad perspective on bringing complex technologies from concept to market.
At Nextpower, he is focused on developing products that deliver meaningful value for customers while advancing clean energy. He is passionate about collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning.
Moderators
Mark Hutchins is Magazine Director. He joined pv magazine in September 2016 as production editor of the monthly global title. Mark also works online reporting on upstream technology and markets, as well as newly emerging solar regions.
Based in New Delhi, Uma Gupta has over 15 years of experience in reporting on subjects ranging from semiconductor chips to energy and automation. She has been associated with pv magazine since 2018, covering latest trends and updates from the Indian solar and energy storage market.