The Future Lies Not in  Centralization, But in Resilience – Tanya Singhal, Founder, SolarArise & Mynzo Carbon

Q. From founding SolarArise to building Mynzo, what have been the most defining moments in your entrepreneurial journey so far?

In 2009, a few years into strategy consulting at the Boston Consulting Group, I attended a presentation which showed that a small box covering 7.5% of the desert on the map of India, once filled with solar panels was sufficient to power all of India! Awestruck by how powerful a force solar can be in solving our climate crisis, I followed my passion. I left my stable, flourishing consulting career and joined a solar-engineering firm to understand how solar could work in India. Four years later in 2014, I started my entrepreneurial journey and SolarArise was born with a vision to make solar prices at par, or even lower, than conventional power and make solar a sustainable power solution.

10 years later, after raising and deploying >2000 Rs Cr of capital to successfully build 7 solar plants totalling ~half a GW over ~1500 acres of land at sub-coal power prices, I could power >250,000 homes and reduce >600,000 tons of CO2 emissions/annum and today our assets are listed as a part of a trust on the London Stock Exchange. Solar is now cheaper than fossil fuels, and it’s the talk-of-the-town! Post the listing and my exit from SolarArise, continuing my passion for advancing carbon neutrality, I’m building Mynzo – MyNetZero – for climate consciousness through technology and AI, aiming to foster a low-carbon world and address the climate crisis.

Q. You’ve raised and deployed over Rs 20 billion for solar projects in India. What were the biggest challenges and lessons in securing such large-scale investments?

Securing large-scale capital in renewable energy requires a clear economic value proposition and a disciplined approach to risk management. One of the first hurdles was demonstrating how each solar plant would stand alone be a cash-generating asset, not just rely on portfolio-level valuation optics. Every investment had to show how capital would be protected through strong asset creation practices—long-term PPAs, reliable off-takers, robust engineering, and detailed contractual safeguards.

We also had to convince investors that while solar costs would decline over time, the sanctity of earlier, higher-tariff PPAs would remain intact—requiring meticulous financial modelling and scenario planning. Policy advocacy played a crucial role in ensuring a stable regulatory environment and fostering investor confidence.

Ultimately, what opened doors was a combination of consistent governance, transparent reporting, and relentless focus on execution.

When you’re building long-term infrastructure, investors back not just the asset—but the credibility of the team behind it.

Q. In what ways do you see climate tech evolving with the help of AI, blockchain, or IoT in the next 5–10 years?

AI is already transforming the climate tech stack—from predictive maintenance in solar to digital twins of energy assets. In the future, AI will be embedded in everything: from optimizing EV charging to suggesting personal lifestyle changes in real-time. Blockchain can power next-gen carbon markets—bringing transparency to offset verification and enabling peer-to-peer renewable energy trading. IoT, meanwhile, will be the silent infrastructure that connects energy generation, consumption, and storage in homes and cities.

We’re moving toward an ecosystem where tech isn’t just solving climate problems but making sustainability effortless, intuitive, and measurable.

Q. What’s your assessment of India’s solar journey over the past decade, and what opportunities do you foresee ahead?

India’s solar growth has been nothing short of a revolution—from 20 GW in 2017 to over 115 GW installed capacity in H1 2025. Prices have fallen over 85%, making solar cheaper than coal. Policy support—like long-term PPAs, ISTS waivers, and VGF—has played a vital role. But the next phase is about integration: hybrid projects with storage, grid upgrades, and expanding rooftop solar. There’s also huge headroom in open access for commercial users and in domestic solar manufacturing through PLI schemes.

With our ambitious 500 GW by 2030 target, India can lead the world—if we continue combining policy boldness with execution excellence.

Q. How do you see the interplay between distributed solar, storage, and grid resilience in India’s clean energy future?

Distributed solar, especially rooftop and open access, empowers consumers to directly buy renewable power. But without reliable storage, its potential remains capped as consumers are still dependent on the grid power especially in the non-solar hours. Thankfully, battery prices are falling, and technologies like Pumped Hydro Storage are gaining traction. The key is to design hybrid systems—solar, wind, storage—that provide 24×7 renewable energy. For this to work at scale, India must invest in grid infrastructure: smart substations, time-of-day pricing, and digital load balancing. The future lies not in centralization, but in resilience—where local generation, real-time data, and flexible storage form the backbone of a clean, stable grid.

Q. You’ve expressed a desire to weave climate consciousness into everyday life. What are some practical tips for individuals to start this journey?

The first step is simple yet often overlooked: measure your carbon footprint. What you can’t measure, you can’t reduce. Knowing where your emissions come from—whether it’s travel, food, electricity, or purchases—is half the battle. Yet, most people dismiss their small individual actions, assuming they’re too insignificant to matter in the face of such a vast global crisis. But every drop fills the ocean.

The cumulative power of small, consistent actions—taken by millions—is precisely how we can tackle this challenge.

Once you’re aware, adopt the classic 3R mindset: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—but apply it with intention. Reduce unnecessary consumption, reuse wherever possible, and recycle responsibly. And most importantly, shift your mindset from one of convenience to one of consciousness. Normalize climate discussions at home, in schools, and at workplaces. Make sustainability visible and social. Small acts—when scaled across millions—can create systemic change.

Q. What advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs looking to make a mark in clean tech and climate action?

My one advice to young aspiring women is to be authentic, don’t be afraid to follow your passion. Dream big. Don’t put a gender bias to your dreams, or you would limit yourself. You must believe in your dream and be deliberate about it. It’s painful and tiring but you need to keep that vision going. The biggest challenge you face is the mindset. The mindset outside and the mindset with-in. The one within is more important to change.

Stay true to your passions and be willing to take calculated risks. Don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path and pursue unconventional opportunities that align with your values and aspirations. At the same time, be open to learning from failures and setbacks, as they can often be the stepping stones to greater success.