{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-17/orb-energy-20-years-450-mw","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-17/orb-energy-20-years-450-mw.md","title":"Orb Energy Marks 20 Years With 450 MW Installed","headline":"Orb Energy Hits 450 MW Installed Capacity as It Marks 20 Years in Solar","description":"Orb Energy celebrated 20 years in Bengaluru with 450 MW of installed solar capacity and 95,000 customers, and aims to exceed 1 GW by 2030.","section":"Business","published_at":"2026-10-17T13:09:14+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-17T13:09:14+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Orb Energy marked its 20th anniversary in Bengaluru with around 450 MW of installed solar PV capacity and 95,000 customers served.","The company's in-house solar finance facility has disbursed close to ₹350 crore to small and medium-sized enterprises.","Orb Energy aims to exceed 1 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030."],"companies":[{"name":"Orb Energy","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000ilp/orb-energy","website":"https://www.orbenergy.com"},{"name":"U.S. International Development Finance Corp","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00004ou/u-s-international-development-finance-corp","website":"https://www.dfc.gov"},{"name":"Shell","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00002g4/shell","website":"https://www.shell.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"EIN Presswire","title":"Celebrating 20 Years of Pioneering India’s Solar Revolution: Orb Energy’s Journey","url":"https://www.einnews.com/article/950372361/live"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Business","Orb Energy","U.S. International Development Finance Corp","Shell"],"body_markdown":"[Orb Energy](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000ilp/orb-energy) marked its 20th anniversary in Bengaluru on October 17, 2026, with around 450 MW of installed solar PV capacity, more than 175,000 systems and 95,000 customers served across India. The company said it aims to exceed 1 GW of installed capacity by 2030. [EIN Presswire](https://www.einnews.com/article/950372361/live) carried the announcement.\n\n## Orb Energy's Two Decades of Solar Growth\n\nOrb Energy was founded in Bengaluru in 2006, when solar panels cost around 40 times more than they do today and virtually no solar power was connected to the grid. The company built a branch network that at its peak reached 170 branches across five states in South India, serving semi-urban and rural customers facing power shortages.\n\nAs solar costs fell after the 2008 financial crisis and state governments introduced net-metering policies, Orb Energy moved toward the SME rooftop solar market for grid-connected applications. By 2017 it had established its own solar panel manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, bringing manufacturing, system design, installation and after-sales service under one roof.\n\nOrb Energy also launched an in-house credit facility that lets SMEs adopt solar without collateral or a down payment. Cumulative disbursements through that facility have reached close to ₹350 crore. In 2019, [Shell](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00002g4/shell) acquired a 20% stake in Orb Energy, and in 2022 the [U.S. International Development Finance](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00004ou/u-s-international-development-finance-corp) Corporation extended a US$20 million loan to support the in-house credit facility for SMEs. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation has pledged over $8 billion in investments across Ukraine, Jordan and Africa, according to Devdiscourse.\n\nDamian Miller, CEO and Co-Founder of Orb Energy, said: \"As we look back on 20 years, what stands out is the trust our customers have placed in us and the commitment of our employees and partners who work every day to deliver on that trust. This milestone belongs to our customers, partners and the entire Orb Energy team, whose support and commitment have shaped our journey.\"\n\n## Orb Energy's Funding and Installed Base\n\nOrb Energy's [funding records](https://akta.pro/company-data) on akta.pro show a $20 million follow-on loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation in October 2022 to scale its in-house solar financing platform for rooftop and ground-mounted customers in India. Shell Ventures became a strategic investor in October 2019, and a $10 million debt round led by FMO and OPIC was recorded in January 2018. The same records list a $2 million round led by KawiSafi Ventures in October 2026 and seven funding rounds in total.\n\n## Orb Energy's 2030 Capacity Target\n\nOrb Energy aims to exceed 1 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030, according to the company. In 2025 it was ranked among India's top three rooftop solar companies by JMK Research & Analytics, and over the past six years it has typically ranked among India's top five rooftop solar companies, according to JMK Research & Analytics and CRISIL.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}