Vikram Solar has appointed Arun Mittal as Chief Executive Officer of VSL Powerhive, its wholly owned subsidiary focused on energy storage systems, as the Indian solar manufacturer broadens its portfolio beyond photovoltaic modules.
The appointment comes as Vikram Solar expands its manufacturing footprint, having recently commissioned a 5 GW facility that more than doubled its module capacity from 4.5 GW to 9.5 GW. The company has outlined plans for a further 6 GW module expansion to reach 15.5 GW total capacity, alongside a 12 GW solar cell capacity project scheduled for commissioning in FY27.
VSL Powerhive will address India's growing demand for battery energy storage systems, which are becoming increasingly critical for grid stability, peak load management, and enabling round-the-clock renewable power supply.
Mittal brings over 30 years of experience in battery manufacturing and energy storage. He most recently served as Managing Director and CEO (India) at Lohum Cleantech Pvt. Ltd., where he focused on battery recycling and circular economy initiatives. Prior to that, he held the position of Managing Director and CEO at Exide Energy Solutions Ltd., contributing to the company's lithium-ion battery manufacturing strategy.
His career includes a 31-year tenure at Exide Industries Ltd., where he advanced from Management Trainee to Executive Director of the Automotive and Industrial Divisions. Mittal is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), and Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI).
Gyanesh Chaudhary, Chairman and Managing Director of Vikram Solar, emphasized the strategic importance of battery energy storage for the clean energy transition, noting its role in ensuring reliability and grid stability.
Mittal commented that energy systems are becoming increasingly decentralized and storage-driven, and that VSL Powerhive is developing scalable solutions to support India's energy transition commitments.
Vikram Solar operates across 39 countries and has been recognized as a Top Performer in PVEL's PV Module Reliability scorecard 2025. The company is also listed as a Tier 1 solar PV module manufacturer by Bloomberg NEF and maintains a distribution network of over 100 authorized distributors, 375 dealers, and 75 system integrators across India.