At Clever Solar, we always say that to understand where the sun is heading, it’s not enough to look at the sky; you have to look East. Recently, our team landed from an intense route through India and Japan thanks to EnGie India and Plug and Play Center, and we return with a mix of enthusiasm and a necessary dose of humility.
In Europe, we often fall into the complacency of believing we are at the forefront of the energy transition. However, stepping onto the ground in these two Asian giants has served to confirm that if we don’t accelerate, we will be left watching as others write the future.
India: The Giant That Doesn’t Ask for Permission
What is happening in India is not an evolution; it is a revolution on a massive scale. The general feeling is that India is light-years ahead of Europe in terms of photovoltaic investment. There, they don’t talk about projects; they talk about energy ecosystems that transform entire regions in months, not decades.
While we get tangled in endless bureaucracy here, their commitment is absolute. They have understood that energy sovereignty is not an option, but the engine of their economic growth. The speed at which they deploy gigawatts is, quite simply, in another league.
Japan: Where Innovation is Culture, Not Marketing
On the other hand, Japan plays on a different board. If India is the strength, Japan is the precision. It is evident that Japan is light-years ahead of Europe in technology and commitment to innovation. They don’t limit themselves to installing panels; they are perfecting integration, storage, and efficiency in ways we are only just beginning to imagine here.
But the most fascinating thing about Japan is not just its technology, but its market ethics.
The Human Factor: One Opportunity, Zero Mistakes
Something that has profoundly marked us is the structure of the Japanese Utility sector. It is a tight-knit circle where everyone knows each other. It is not just a market; it is a community based on honor and operational excellence.
In Japan, the rules of the game are clear and demanding: you are given only one chance to prove your value as a company. It is a culture of extreme trust, but without a safety net. If you deliver, you are a partner for life; but if you fail once, you are out. There are no second chances for those who do not respect the quality standards the country demands. This rigor is what explains why their infrastructure is impeccable.
We return with suitcases full of ideas and, above all, the conviction that at Clever Solar, we must import not only the technology, but also that mindset of excellence and urgency. The solar future is already happening, and it has an Asian accent.
Are we ready in Europe to compete at that level of demand and speed? Following the launch of our new identity, we certainly are.
