Cycling towards Glory: Sun Pedal Ride enters into Guinness World Records


Intersolar India 2016 sponsors solar-powered bicycle ride across India 

Solar industry expected to grow as government emphasizes on renewable energies 

Intersolar India to showcase Indian and international solar technologies 

26 September 2016, India: IntersolarIndia, a leading trade fair for solar energy, becomes the title sponsor for solar bicycle project initiated by IIT Bombay alumnus. Every year, Intersolar India takes place in Mumbai to showcase the latest trends and innovation in the field of solar technology. Organized by Messe München India, Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Management under Marketing International GmbH, Intersolar India will take place from 19-21 October 2016 at Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. 

Cycling towards Glory: Sun Pedal Ride enters into Guinness World Records


Solar powered bicycle project by IIT Bombay alumni
Intersolar India has proudly sponsored ‘Sun Pedal Ride’, an innovative initiative of Mr. Sushil Reddy, an IIT Bombay alumni from the Department of Energy and Science. As part of the project, Reddy has ridden a solar powered electric bicycle across 5 Indian states and covered over 7,000 kilometers in about 70 days. The ‘Sun Pedal Ride’ act has also been recognized and entered into Guinness World records.

The ride was completed with a support vehicle and support crew, sponsored by Intersolar India, providing necessary support to make this project a reality. Apart from Intersolar India, the renewable energy group Mahindra Susten and Applied Materials were the co-sponsors for the ride. A solar panel was connected to the back of the bicycle and was powered an electric motor allowing the bicycle to gain speed up to 20 kmph using solar energy, which was christened as the ‘Sun Pedal Ride’. Throughout the route, Reddy conducted numerous discussions and presentations in schools and colleges to educate students on the benefits and applications of solar energy. He also encouraged employing different ways of using solar energy. 

In addition to demonstrating use of solar energy in day to day life, the ‘Sun Pedal Ride’ undertook a crowd funding campaign to bring solar power to a rural school in Jatwara. Hockey Village India, an NGO which promotes sports and education in rural sectors actively became part of the initiative. There are frequent power cuts in these rural schools and solar power will help these children to study and progress in their lives. The NGO is run by a former German National Hockey player, Andrea Thumshirn. Andrea met Sushil in July 2015 and discussed the plan to get solar power for the school. 

By sponsoring ‘Sun Pedal Ride’, Intersolar India continued to break barriers in terms of supporting innovation and connecting with consumers. During the three-day event, Intersolar India willshowcase a working model of the solar powered electric bicycle, the same ridden by Reddy.  


Commenting on the entire concept, Bhupinder Singh, CEO of MesseMünchen India the organizers of Intersolar India says, “We are proud and delighted to partner with IIT Bombay alumni who came up with the innovative concept. Messe München India is actively supporting the ‘Sun Pedal Ride’ as a title sponsor. It is satisfying to learn that youth is enthusiastic and keen to explore the application and usage of solar energy. The Sun Pedal Ride is a definite step further in this direction and Intersolar is proud to support this initiative and would ensure that it is successfully executed.” 

Intersolar India 2016 will give additional value to the trade fair by designing a special photo wall to showcase the overall experience of ‘Sun Pedal Ride’.  The photo wall section would be a motivating experience for the visitors at Intersolar 2016. 

Strong government focus on Solar Energy 

Under the vision of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), solar applications will grow tremendously resulting to an estimated requirement 300,000 skilled solar professionals comprising of multiple skill set ranging from research, design, engineering, installation, operation and maintenance, sales and marketing.  Hence, there is an urgent need to educate and empower people, making them aware about the opportunities available in the upcoming solar energy sector. 

Shri. Upendra Tripathy, Secretary of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) says, “India is slowly gaining its prominence in the generation of solar power due to the ambitious solar policies, projects and National Solar mission of the state and the central government. In 2015, the government significantly expanded its solar plans, targeting US $100 billion of investment and 100 GW of solar capacity including 40 GW from rooftop solar by 2022. This only reflects on how renewable energies, most particularly, solar energy reflects on the growth of the nation.”

Intersolar India would capitalize on projected growth of solar industry and will be bringing solar industry professionals under a single roof from 19-21 October 2016 at Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. To learn more about the event, log on to www.intersolar.in


About MesseMünchen, the organisers of Intersolar India
As part of its international strategy, Messe München founded its own affiliated company in India with a registered office in Mumbai, in September 2007. Messe München India has been founded to provide Messe München with timely and competent organizational support for its increasing involvement in India. 

The trade fairs organized by Messe München India are analytica Anacon India, electronica India, productronica India, drink technology India, LASER World of PHOTONICS India, Intersolar India, India Lab Expo, IFAT India and Indian Ceramics. In the coming years Messe München India will include more verticals keeping in mind its international expansion strategy.