Llya Likhov is an entrepreneur, founder, and Chief Executive Officer of Neosun Energy. He is a distinguished authority in solar energy and international business strategy with over 20 years of experience. Neosun Energy operates in 16 countries with 8 local branches across 3 continents. He is a current member of the Forbes Business Council and the Organizing Committee of the Trend Energy Conference. As a keynote speaker, he has participated in energy conferences in Dubai, Seoul, Miami, Cape Town, and Rwanda. In 2024, Entrepreneur Mirror ranked him №1 in the “Top 10 Leadership Styles Defining Innovation.” In this interview with Oke Peter, Llya speaks on the importance of India Energy Week and energy transition in the region, among other issues. Excerpts:

India is currently among the top three leading economies in the world. However, more than 300 million people in India still live without access to reliable electricity. This number is comparable to the population of a country like the United States. India’s economy is growing at an incredible pace, and in the future, both energy consumption and energy shortages will only increase. That is why events like India Energy Week are extremely important not only for India but for the entire region. They help companies find new sources of energy for their enterprises, improve efficiency, and, of course, enhance the overall energy supply of the region. Today, there are many new energy sources, such as solar and wind power. They are becoming cheaper, and new technologies continue to emerge.

Events like this allow businesses, companies, and governments to explore global best practices in energy supply. This, in turn, helps provide the most efficient and affordable electricity sources for both businesses and the country.

Energy is the oxygen that powers the modern economy and businesses. Without energy, our current way of life and civilization cannot exist. Just as people need food, all enterprises need energy. That is why I see my mission as providing businesses and people around the world with clean and affordable energy — solar energy. This is exactly what we are doing at Neosun. We have already completed solar projects in 16 countries, opened branches in 6 countries, and continue to expand.

India is already implementing numerous programs aimed at developing energy, including solar power. However, we also have a lot to offer the Indian market — ranging from affordable and accessible equipment to extensive experience in implementing projects in remote areas. As I mentioned earlier, more than 300 million people in India still lack access to reliable electricity. Most of them live in remote regions. Neosun has vast experience in carrying out such projects in Africa and the Middle East. We know how to provide businesses and ordinary people in remote areas with cost-effective hybrid energy solutions based on solar power and energy storage.

Simply put, today we can supply any enterprise, no matter how far it is from infrastructure and civilization, with affordable electricity. Whether it is a mining company, a manufacturing plant, or a household, we can ensure they have access to cheap and reliable energy.

There were reports that 55% of India’s energy needs depend on coal. Coal burning is hazardous to human health. As an expert, what are you doing to ensure that air pollution and greenhouse emissions are not contributing to the impact of climate change in the region?

Yes, absolutely. Coal remains one of the dirtiest energy sources, still widely used in many countries, including India. However, there is a clear trend toward reducing its share. Just a few years ago, coal accounted for nearly 70% of India’s energy needs, while today, this figure has already dropped to 55%. As for our company, we have no connection to coal-based energy generation. We work exclusively with solar power, which has nothing to do with polluting coal energy. What we do is aimed precisely at transitioning businesses to solar energy — an energy source that is not only clean but also the cheapest available. Part of our mission is also to educate businesses on the fact that solar energy is not just about environmental benefits but also about cost savings.

Unfortunately, for many companies, environmental concerns often take a back seat to profit, and sustainability is not always a priority. That’s why we focus on explaining that switching to solar energy helps businesses both reduce their ecological footprint and save money. For many companies, this is a more convincing argument because, at the end of the day, businesses always prioritize profitability. When we show them that solar energy can increase their profits, they realize that they are not only cutting costs but also contributing to the environmental well-being of their region. In this way, we speak to businesses in a language they understand, helping them transition to cleaner energy sources.

Certainly, India’s energy infrastructure in many regions is heavily outdated, as it was built decades ago. Today, solar energy is the cheapest way to generate electricity, offering the lowest costs and the highest return on investment. That’s why we recommend that businesses install solar power stations — not only to gain access to more affordable energy but also to modernize their infrastructure with advanced technologies.

This approach solves multiple problems at once: it upgrades outdated infrastructure while providing cleaner and more cost-effective energy sources. I firmly believe that transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar power and energy storage systems, enables businesses to significantly reduce their electricity costs.

Neosun’s business model is unique as most solar energy companies typically operate in just one country. Our business allows us to work efficiently in multiple countries at the same time. We continue to scale and expand into new regions. Our company structure is designed with a headquarters — a global entity responsible for international marketing, production, technology development, logistics, and global equipment supply. This enables us to significantly reduce costs and provide highly affordable yet effective equipment. At the same time, we have local branches in different regions that operate according to the international standards we have developed, based on our experience, case studies, and projects. However, we hire local teams with employees from these regions — people who understand the local culture, market specifics, and how the industry operates in their country. By combining these two aspects — global expertise and high international quality standards on the one hand, and deep local market understanding on the other — we have found a way to be both efficient and flexible. In a way, we have “hacked the system.”

Our model allows us to grow, scale, and expand rapidly while providing affordable and effective equipment — quickly and efficiently.

Just recently, we completed an interesting project in South Africa—a 1 MW solar installation for the Dayizenza Mall shopping center.

Dayizenza Mall is a chain of large shopping centers similar to the American Walmart. We managed to complete the 1 MW project in just 2 months, including all processes: design, equipment supply, installation, connection, and more. As a result, after just 2 months, the company received 1 MW of energy and began saving. The payback period for this project is less than a year. Starting from the second year, the company will begin generating regular profits. The most important thing is that it is already receiving clean and reliable energy. This will significantly reduce energy costs and relieve pressure on the energy system of the entire town. Since there is a huge power deficit in South Africa, reducing the load on the town’s grid has allowed other consumers — ordinary people — to have a more stable electricity supply in their homes! In this way, we have not only improved the economic situation of the business but also enhanced the lives of the entire community. Moreover, we have several dozen similar shopping center clients, and we are now implementing these projects, understanding the important impact they will have on the entire region.

The solar energy market is growing at an enormous pace, with an average annual growth rate of around 20-25%. Last year, the renewable energy market was worth nearly a trillion dollars. However, even with this growth, it is still not enough to cover the emerging electricity deficit. The overall trend is that energy consumption will only continue to rise. The existing capacities are simply not enough to meet this demand. In this regard, Neosun’s goal is to maintain active growth. As I mentioned earlier, we plan to open over 50 branches in different countries over the next five years. We aim to do everything possible to reduce this deficit in the countries where we operate. This creates significant opportunities for growth, both for us and for other companies— to expand or invest in us and do it together. Neosun’s plan for the next five years is to enter the top 10 energy companies in the world, providing businesses and ordinary people with clean and affordable electricity across the globe. Let’s achieve this together!