I Said Every Street Light in India Should Be Solar. The Hindu Put It on Record.
26 April 2016 — under my watch as CEO & MD, Su-Kam launched Sunway: Made-in-India lithium solar street light, sans grid link. The Hindu carried the line. That is Solar Man of India product press.
By Kunwer Sachdev · CEO & Managing Director, Su-Kam (at the time) · Founder 1988–2018 · Published September 28, 2026 · Historical era: The Hindu / Electronics Maker 26 Apr 2016
Media — The Hindu, 26 Apr 2016: sans grid link · Li-ion · Made in India · 4W–50W (six models). Electronics Maker same day: Sunway platform specs. MD quote from me in The Hindu.
Sans Grid Link — Why I Wanted That Headline
Under my leadership as CEO & MD, Su-Kam did not only put plants on campuses and factory roofs. We also had to light the road itself — without digging a trench for every kilometre of cable.
That is what The Hindu recorded on 26 April 2016: Su-Kam’s solar street light is sans grid link. Lithium-ion inside. Works in a blackout. Six Made-in-India models from 4W to 50W. People later called me the Solar Man of India for rural homes and megawatt roofs; this was the outdoor-lighting leaf of the same conviction — the sun is already there; stop waiting for the feeder.
What I Said on the Record
The Hindu quoted me as Managing Director: “I think all the street lights in India should be solar-powered.” India has weather and sunshine. But traditional solar street lights were inefficient, needed high maintenance, and were prone to battery thefts. That is why we put lithium-ion into the fixture as Sunway — not a lead-acid box at the base of the pole waiting to be stolen.
Sunway — What Electronics Maker Added
Electronics Maker the same day named the platform and the model ladder: 4W, 9W, 15W, 30W, 40W, 50W. Inbuilt Li-ion and BMS; automatic dusk-to-dawn; fast charge framing; motion sensing on higher-watt models. Pitch against grid street lights: no expensive cabling, light through blackout, zero power bill.
Launch Press, Then the Field
This page is the launch leaf — New Delhi product press with my MD quote. The field chapters are already written: Nagaland ~955–1,000 SUNWAY lights and Gabon’s street-light and rural map. My longer Sun Way argument also lives on KunwerSachdev.com.
What I Want on Record
Kunwer Sachdev — CEO & MD of Su-Kam · Solar Man of India. 26 April 2016: The Hindu — Su-Kam solar street light sans grid link; Made in India; Li-ion; 4W–50W; my quote that every street light in India should be solar. Product name in trade press: Sunway.
Verified Sources
- The Hindu (26 Apr 2016) — Su-Kam’s solar street light is sans grid link
- Electronics Maker (26 Apr 2016) — Su-Kam launches Made in India lithium-ion Sunway solar street light
- KunwerSachdev.com — Off-grid solar street light: Su-Kam Sun Way, no grid
- Companion — Nagaland ~1000 SUNWAY street lights
- Companion — Gabon street lights & 40,000 rural homes
- Companion — BMS / battery management era
Related
- Nagaland — ~1000 SUNWAY street lights
- Gabon — street lights & 40,000 homes
- Kannauj — Kalam mini-grid
- Facebook Archive
FAQ
What did The Hindu report on 26 April 2016?
The Hindu (Business / Industry) headlined “Su-Kam’s solar street light is sans grid link.” Su-Kam announced a Made-in-India solar street light with a lithium-ion battery — no grid connection needed, works during outages — in six models from 4W to 50W. Managing Director Kunwer Sachdev is quoted saying all street lights in India should be solar-powered.
What is Sunway?
Su-Kam’s Sunway (also styled Sun Way) platform: all-in-one / integrated lithium-ion solar street lighting. Electronics Maker (same day) lists six models — 4W, 9W, 15W, 30W, 40W, 50W — with inbuilt Li-ion and BMS, automatic dusk-to-dawn, and motion sensing on higher-wattage models. Pitch: no expensive cabling, zero power bill, light through blackouts; answer to inefficient lead-acid street-light packs and battery theft.
Did Kunwer Sachdev speak at the launch?
Yes. The Hindu quotes him as MD: India has abundant sunshine; traditional solar street lights were inefficient, high-maintenance and prone to battery thefts — which is why Su-Kam built Sunway with built-in lithium-ion.
How does this relate to Nagaland and Gabon street lights?
This is the product-launch leaf. Field chapters already on this site include Nagaland ~955–1,000 SUNWAY installs (EQ Mag 2017) and Gabon’s large street-light / rural programmes. The Hindu piece is New Delhi launch press for the lithium Sunway line under his watch as CEO & MD.
Is there a founder essay elsewhere?
Yes. KunwerSachdev.com carries an off-grid Sun Way essay citing the same The Hindu headline and the no-trench / no-cable / lithium + BMS argument.
Historical Documentation Notice:
This article documents historical innovations and installations under the leadership of Kunwer Sachdev during his tenure as Founder & Managing Director of Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. (1988–2018). Kunwer Sachdev exited the company in 2019 under the IBC process and holds no association, affiliation, or liability with Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. or its subsequent management. Launch claims follow The Hindu and Electronics Maker (26 Apr 2016). Hero is AI atmosphere; Hindu screenshot and SunWay creative are archive / press scans.
