Chennai college whizkids glow in solar energy
Engineering students manufacture their own solar powered devices
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-03 05:11 GMT
Chennai: S.Christopher and V.Vaikunth are no ordinary engineering students. They are creating a revolution in the solar power industry, designing and manufacturing their own solar powered devices. These third year engineering students at Sathyabama University have started to make waves in the industry. They have installed their devices in more than 10 educational institutions and commercial establishments.
“There are several misconceptions about solar energy such as they can be used only for a short period. We wanted to disprove these, so we began a company to produce and install solar powered devices. We have been working together for six years on solar research and have done several installations,” Christopher, the mechanical engineering student said.
Asked about their unique selling proposition (USP), the young entrepreneurs instantaneously said, “We refurbish solar panels which are as old as 10 years and reuse it, which brings down the cost of the project, as people think solar is expensive.” The two young students started a company “Vaik & Chris Stalz” to commercialise their products. Vaik & Chris Stalz, which has a gamut of solar household products also plans to produce solar bike, solar car and solar quadrapros.
Continuing their success story, Vaikunth said that they had not only ventured into the solar power industry but computer accessories too. “We have come up with a change in the computer’s printer, according to which a person need not use the printer’s inbuilt cartridge, and can instead use an external toner, which we have developed so that your ink does not get exhausted,” Vaikunth, a third year electronics and instrumentation student said.
Presently, these young entrepreneurs have installed solar powered street lights at Sathyabama University, and a solar power generation unit at a voluntary service organisation in Chengalpattu.
Let's make history in solar power and become a global leader in this technology to make India’s flag fly high, was what these students said when asked about their ambitions.