Page 194 - ISES SWC50

Ravikumar Gurumurti
Country: India
Year joined industry: 1982
Company first worked for: Quantum Sun
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

Ravikumar Gurumurti joined the solar industry in 1982 as an R&D Engineer in the “National Solar Photovoltaic
Energy Development Project” in Central Electronics Ltd., the first solar company and went on to lead the Quality
function. In 1995 he moved to Siemens as Quality Head in the module manufacturing plant and was later assigned
the training and marketing functions. In 2001, when Shell acquired Siemens Solar, he joined Shell Renewables
to set up and develop the B2B business. In 2004 he joined Tata-BP Solar and handled the Customer Support
and Training functions. In 2010 he moved to SEMI, the global Semiconductor and PV Industry Association and
was responsible for Member Services. Since 2015 he has been freelancing and consults for Solar Promotion and
structures the Intersolar India Conference and some solar startups. He delivers training programmes, speaks in
workshops and seminars and contributes technical articles. He is a member of the Bangalore chapter of the Green
Building Council of India and contributes to the promotion of Net Zero Energy Building concepts. Some of the
significant projects he was involved in his 38 years long solar journey include: Development of Space Qualified
solar cells; Development of low cost screen printing technology and replacement of silicone potting by lamination
for terrestrial PV manufacturing; Development of solar solutions for the National “Literacy Mission” and “Drinking
Water Mission”; Solar solutions for Off-shore oil platforms, Airport Navigation systems, Rural Telephony, Cathodic
protection, Weather Monitoring etc.; Design, Installation and Commissioning of the first PV power plant (100KWp)
in the state of Uttar Pradesh (1993). Other projects included: Training of 150 Engineers and 600 Technicians
under World Bank’s Market Development Programme; Development of the first rooftop solar system (25 KWp);
Development of solar power solution for the emerging mobile telephone operators,and; Raising solar awareness
across the country through the Corporate Programme “Arunodaya”.

Mark Hankins
Country: Kenya
Year joined industry: 1983
Company first worked for: Energy Alternatives Africa
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

Mark Hankins is a pioneer in rural electrification and renewable energy in East and Southern Africa. He began solar
PV work in Kenya in 1983 as a Peace Corps volunteer. With Harold Burris, he installed off-grid solar systems in
schools and households around Mt. Kenya and trained dozens of technicians to install solar home systems. The
technicians he and Harry trained went on to install thousands of solar home systems before 1995 in the growing
east African market. The training material developed when Mark was a volunteer eventually became the book Solar
Electric Systems for Africa, a basic manual that sold over ten thousand copies and was used to train innumerable
technicians all over Africa. Through his work in training, policy development, advocacy and market study, Hankins
helped build early off-grid solar industries in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, Ethiopia and elsewhere.
From his base in Kenya, and utilizing his fieldworker experience, Mark used his strong writing talents to make the
case for off-grid solar energy access in Africa and all over the developing world. He worked with distributors, policy-
makers, international agencies and advocates to press for off-grid solar and trained many early players in East and
Southern Africa. He was also a pioneer player for grid connect solar in East Africa, as he lobbied governments and
donors to support C&I solar in the early 2000’s. Mark has experiencein training and conducting projects in more
than 20 African countries and has worked for private clients, the UN, the World Bank, UNIDO, the GEF, Sida, USAID,
relief agencies and others. Today, he is MD of African Solar Designs, Ltd., he is a permanent resident of Kenya. Today
he specializes in training, commercial market development, policy, system engineering and project development.
He is an author of 5 books on solar energy and renewables, a Certified Energy Manager and trainer and he lives in
a wind/solar hybrid residence in the Ngong Hills. Mark is also an active musician and father of two girls.

176 | ISES SWC50 - The Century of Solar-Stories and Visions