India’s first solar fishing boats to be ready by Dec 2021 in Kerala

31 Aug 2021 CW Team

India’s first solar fishing boats will be ready by December 2021 at Vypeen and Munambam in Kerala.

Five boats are in different development stages funded by the independent charity arm of British-Dutch petroleum company, Shell Foundation, and NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats is the startup that does the work.

Sandith Thandasherry, CEO of NavAlt, told the media that there are more than 2.5 lakh small fishing boats in India and 1.13 tonnes of CO2 are released/tonne of live weight of marine fish netted. He said that initially, the Shell Foundation is backing the project with Rs 1.5 crore, which includes the developing cost of the boats and financing the buyers to cover the extra cost compared to a traditional boat.

NavAlt stood out and made headlines when it launched a solar water taxi and the first solar ferry in Kerala in the country. Thandasherry also said that a conventional small boat would consume 2,500 litres of fuel/year, which results in 5-6 tonnes of carbon emissions or year according to the estimates, and it gives the size of carbon emission, which is massive in terms of environmental impact multiplied by 2.5 lakh boats in India.

He said that it is a hurdle to convince fisherfolk to switch to a new technology with which they are unfamiliar and that he went to Gujarat in 2013 to understand the needs of the fishermen.

NavAlt plans to sell its solar ones at Rs 10 lakh while a conventional boat costs around Rs 2.5 lakh. Thandasherry told the media that they told the Shell Foundation that if they could help find the financing to pay the difference of 7.5 lakh, the fisherman could pay back the sum as EMI rather than the fuel bills. So they would have a better life right from the first day.

Additionally, he said that the net income of a typical boat owner is less because of fuel bills that come to Rs 2.5 lakh a year.

NavAlt also required finances from Shell Foundation to scale up the project so that the cost of the boat can be brought down from the manufacturing cost of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. NavAlt is also engaged in electric motor development for boats.

Image Source

India’s first solar fishing boats will be ready by December 2021 at Vypeen and Munambam in Kerala. Five boats are in different development stages funded by the independent charity arm of British-Dutch petroleum company, Shell Foundation, and NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats is the startup that does the work. Sandith Thandasherry, CEO of NavAlt, told the media that there are more than 2.5 lakh small fishing boats in India and 1.13 tonnes of CO2 are released/tonne of live weight of marine fish netted. He said that initially, the Shell Foundation is backing the project with Rs 1.5 crore, which includes the developing cost of the boats and financing the buyers to cover the extra cost compared to a traditional boat. NavAlt stood out and made headlines when it launched a solar water taxi and the first solar ferry in Kerala in the country. Thandasherry also said that a conventional small boat would consume 2,500 litres of fuel/year, which results in 5-6 tonnes of carbon emissions or year according to the estimates, and it gives the size of carbon emission, which is massive in terms of environmental impact multiplied by 2.5 lakh boats in India. He said that it is a hurdle to convince fisherfolk to switch to a new technology with which they are unfamiliar and that he went to Gujarat in 2013 to understand the needs of the fishermen. NavAlt plans to sell its solar ones at Rs 10 lakh while a conventional boat costs around Rs 2.5 lakh. Thandasherry told the media that they told the Shell Foundation that if they could help find the financing to pay the difference of 7.5 lakh, the fisherman could pay back the sum as EMI rather than the fuel bills. So they would have a better life right from the first day. Additionally, he said that the net income of a typical boat owner is less because of fuel bills that come to Rs 2.5 lakh a year. NavAlt also required finances from Shell Foundation to scale up the project so that the cost of the boat can be brought down from the manufacturing cost of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. NavAlt is also engaged in electric motor development for boats. Image Source

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..