India’s Tech Growth Faces Challenges in Energy and Water Infrastructure

Scaling Utility Solutions

At the TechSparks 2026 conference, industry executives gathered to address a fundamental hurdle for India’s technology sector: the availability of reliable power and water. While the national conversation often prioritizes artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, speakers argued that sustaining industrial growth requires more than just technological innovation.

Shreya Mishra, CEO of the solar firm SolarSquare, and Vikas Brahmawar, founder of water-reuse company Boson Whitewater, discussed the necessity of scaling utility solutions during a panel titled “The Invisible Infrastructure.”

The Shift in Residential Solar

The residential solar market in India has seen significant change over the last five years. Mishra noted that when her company entered the market, adoption was slow due to a lack of consumer awareness and the burden of upfront costs. However, the company maintained that distributed power generation offered a path toward energy security.

“Distributed solar, which is solar on every rooftop, will be the cheapest source of power,” Mishra said. According to Mishra, the adoption rate has accelerated sharply. While it previously took five years for 100,000 homes to adopt residential solar, the country now adds that many homes in a single week. SolarSquare has powered more than 60,000 homes to date.

Despite this growth, challenges remain. Households often express concerns regarding equipment reliability, long-term maintenance costs, and actual electricity output. Mishra argued that building consumer trust is as critical as the financial argument for solar power. Furthermore, she emphasized that generating electricity at the point of consumption reduces the costs associated with long-distance transmission.