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Mapping Energy Usage in Chennai: A Market Study for Intelligent Energy Management Systems

  • rashmi02
  • Nov 26
  • 2 min read

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How Vitarka helped an energy tech startup validate market potential for intelligent energy solutions in the Chennai Metropolitan Area


The Client: A Startup Powering Smarter Energy Storage

Our client is a fast-growing energy management startup that designs and deploys energy storage systems for commercial and industrial users. With a focus on reducing energy costs and improving reliability, the company is building next-gen solutions for smarter power usage.

To explore market potential for its Intelligent Systems for Energy Management (ISEM), the client partnered with Vitarka Research & Consulting to conduct a focused dipstick study in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.


The Objective: Understanding Energy Usage Patterns

The goal of the study was to:

  • Analyze energy usage patterns across select commercial and industrial sectors

  • Identify potential user segments and typical non-users

  • Validate pain points, awareness levels, and readiness for adopting intelligent energy solutions

Our Approach: Targeted Survey + Strategic Analysis

We designed a structured market survey and conducted face-to-face interviews with 20 companies selected based on energy consumption profiles.


Target Customer Categories:

  • LT (Low Tension) users with high energy consumption

  • Companies relying on diesel gensets for mission-critical operations

  • Businesses with rooftop solar installations

The survey was led by senior consultants using a structured questionnaire to capture both quantitative and qualitative insights.


Key Insights & Validation

The study helped clarify several hypotheses and surfaced actionable findings:

  • Power Situation: Many businesses faced inconsistent grid supply, prompting backup solutions

  • Solar Deployment: Rooftop solar adoption was growing, but integration with storage systems remained limited

  • Diesel Genset Usage: Mission-critical operations still relied heavily on diesel, indicating scope for cleaner alternatives

  • Time-of-Day (TOD) Savings: Awareness of TOD tariffs was low, but potential savings were significant

These insights helped identify high-potential user segments and typical non-users — based on operational pain points, energy awareness, and openness to new technologies.


Business Impact: Clarity for Market Entry

The client gained:

  • A validated view of target customer profiles

  • Clear segmentation of user vs. non-user groups

  • Strategic inputs to refine product positioning and outreach

This foundational research enabled the startup to prioritize sectors, tailor messaging, and plan pilot deployments with greater confidence.


Vitarka’s Role in Energy Market Research

At Vitarka Research & Consulting, we help startups and enterprises uncover market realities through:

  • Sector-specific surveys

  • Stakeholder interviews

  • Opportunity validation

  • Go-to-market strategy support

Whether you're launching a new product or entering a new geography, we deliver insights that turn complexity into clarity.



Want to validate Product-Market fit?

Let’s start with a conversation.




 
 
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