CEO Insights India

From providing strategic guidance and technical expertise to fostering innovation and managing risks, a CTO can significantly contribute to the company's success in the digital era. Their role is integral in leveraging technology to drive growth, enhance operational efficiency, and maintain a competitive edge in the market. Amit Kaushik, Chief Technology Officer(CTO) at FRV Australia has played a key role in all aspects of solar project development, including technology selection, design, construction and operations. Prior to joining FRV, Amit worked at SunEdison, where he managed a portfolio of 3 GW of operational renewable energy assets across three continents. Amit played a key role in the acquisition of several solar and wind energy assets, totaling 1 GW in capacity, in the APAC region. He holds a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in the USA, a Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy from IIT Roorkee, and completed a Post Graduate Program in Management with a specialization in Finance from ISB Hyderabad. Let’s hear more from him in this interaction.

Give a brief account about your professional journey?
I began my professional journey at IIT Roorkee, where I developed a passion for technology and a drive to explore cutting-edge advancements. I pursued a Master's degree at Case Western Reserve University, honing my engineering skills and analytical thinking. Afterward, I worked in California, contributing to the development of next-generation display technologies. Returning to India, I joined the renewable energy sector and played a vital role in implementing solar projects across multiple countries and M&A transactions of solar and wind assets totaling ~1GW.

Joining FRV in India, I contributed to all aspects of solar project development, achieving the successful operational stage for 100 MW of projects. This led me to seek new opportunities in Australia,

where I accomplished significant milestones, including introducing pioneering technologies like bifacial PV modules, utility-scale projects with string inverters, and solar hybrid projects integrated with battery energy storage solutions. With shareholder support, we have established a portfolio of 1 GW of operational and under construction solar projects in Australia, and I anticipate further achievements in the future.

Tell us about FRV as an organization and its position as one of the leading providers of comprehensive renewable energy solutions?
FRV stands out as an organization due to several defining factors. These include their emphasis on risk assessment and management, their extensive technical expertise, the support of their dedicated shareholders, and the remarkable contributions of their exceptional team. These elements enable FRV to strategically position themselves in lucrative opportunities, effectively allocate capital to the right projects, and ultimately create a highly valuable portfolio. As a result, FRV has established itself as a leading provider of comprehensive renewable energy solutions.

How do you help the company maintain a competitive edge in leveraging latest technologies?
In an industry characterized by rapid technological advancements, we are committed to maintaining a competitive edge by leveraging the latest technologies. While suppliers contribute through their research and development efforts, our role is to incorporate these cutting-edge technologies into our projects. We are willing to take calculated risks with new technologies if we believe they will drive future growth, and our track record reflects our success in doing so. Our strong relationships with suppliers enable us to stay informed about the latest technical developments, and our extensive operational fleet experience equips us with the expertise to identify and mitigate potential risks associated with deploying new technologies.

How do you foster a learning culture in your team?
To foster a learning culture within my team, I emphasize the importance of continuous

improvement. I encourage team members to make small, incremental enhancements to our processes and approaches. We maintain numerous touch points with stakeholders throughout the value chain to gain insights into market dynamics and trends. Despite the recent global supply chain disruptions caused by factors like COVID-19 and geopolitical conflicts, we have managed to stay resilient. Thanks to our trusted partners, we were able to achieve the financial close of one of Australia's largest solar farms, demonstrating our ability to adapt and thrive even amidst challenging market conditions.

What has been your success mantra in your journey so far?
Throughout my journey, I have embraced the idea of viewing challenges as opportunities. This mindset, combined with my unwavering persistence in tackling these challenges, has been my recipe for success. I firmly believe that this approach sets both me and my organization apart from competitors in our industry.

Where do you see yourself headed towards the upcoming years? What is your future roadmap?
Looking ahead, I would like to actively contribute to the transformation of the power generation and mobility sectors. It is my personal goal to showcase, on a large scale, the efficient utilization of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to not only meet residential energy needs but also produce green fuels like hydrogen (H2). By enabling the distribution of green hydrogen through existing channels used for petrol and diesel, we can help liberate the automobile sector from reliance on non-renewable energy sources. I firmly believe that achieving this goal in an economical and global manner would represent a significant step towards the decarbonization of our planet. It would be immensely fulfilling to play a role in driving this transformation.

Amit Kaushik, Chief Technology Officer, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures
Amit Kaushik is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at FRV Australia and possesses a combined 20 years of experience in the renewable energy and semiconductor industries. He holds a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in the USA, a Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy from IIT Roorkee, and completed a Post Graduate Program in Management with a specialization in Finance from ISB Hyderabad.