Co-Founder · SurgePV
Akash Hirpara is Co-Founder of SurgePV and at Heaven Green Energy Limited, managing finances for a company with 1+ GW in delivered solar projects. With 12+ years in renewable energy finance and strategic planning, he has structured $100M+ in solar project financing and improved EBITDA margins from 12% to 18%. Akash is a Chartered Accountant (CA), holds an MBA in Finance from IIM Ahmedabad, and is certified as a CMA and FRM Level I. He is a speaker at financial summits on renewable energy investment and has been published in CFO Forum and the Economic Times. His writing focuses on solar project finance, ROI analysis, and incentive program optimisation.
Experience
12+ years in solar / renewable energy
Certifications
- Chartered Accountant (CA) · Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA) · Institute of Cost Accountants of India
- Financial Risk Manager (FRM Level I) · Global Association of Risk Professionals
Education
- MBA, Finance · Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Speaking
- Renewable Energy Finance Summit
Featured In
- CFO Forum
- The Economic Times
Articles by Akash Hirpara
Solar Installer Profit Margins: What the Numbers Actually Look Like
US residential solar CAC hit $0.84/W in 2026. Here is the full cost stack, gross-to-net walkthrough, and three levers that separate 12% net margin from 3%.
Solar Installation Cost Breakdown: Where the Money Goes in 2026
NREL benchmarks show 60–65% of US residential solar cost is soft costs. A line-item breakdown of what installers can actually compress.
NTP, PTO, and COD in Solar Projects Explained
NTP, PTO, and COD explained with timelines, prerequisites, and common delays. Covers residential to utility-scale.
Solar Business Profitability: Real Unit Economics
Solar installer margins run 15–20% net. Full P&L breakdown, startup costs, and break-even analysis.
NPV, IRR & Payback Period for Solar Projects
Solar financial analysis with worked examples. Residential IRR 10–20%, commercial 8–15%. Sensitivity tables included.
Solar Financing Options 2026: Loan vs Lease vs PPA vs Cash
Solar financing options compared: loan vs lease vs PPA vs cash. Upfront costs, tax credits, APR ranges, 25-year payback analysis.
European Solar Incentives 2026: Country-by-Country Guide to Grants & Tax Credits
Compare solar grants, feed-in tariffs, net metering & tax credits across Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, UK & Poland. Updated March 2026.
European Solar Tax Credits 2026
Complete 2026 guide to European solar tax credits: 0% VAT in 9+ countries, Germany 0% MwSt, Italy 50% deduction, France TVA 5.5%, Spain, Netherlands, UK.
REPowerEU Rooftop Solar 2026
REPowerEU mandates rooftop solar on all new public buildings by 2026 and commercial buildings by 2030.
Residential Solar Challenges Spain 2026
Spain has world-class sun but residential solar lags. Explore the real barriers—permits, grid limits, LPH votes.
Solar Business Regulations Italy 2026
Complete guide to Italian solar business regulations: FTV installer certification, GSE registration, grid connection, building permits, VAT rules.
Solar Incentives Italy Automation 2026
Automate Italy's GSE applications, Detrazione 50%, Scambio sul Posto & CER filings with solar design software. Cut incentive admin from weeks to hours in 2026.
Solar Procurement Challenges Europe 2026
European solar procurement in 2026: module prices, lead times by equipment category, anti-dumping risks, quality certifications.
Solar Panel ROI Italy 2026: Costs, Payback Periods & Incentives by Region
Solar panel cost Italy: €1,100–€1,500/kWp all-in. Payback 5–8 years by region. Full guide to Conto Energia history, GSE feed-in tariffs.
Italy Superbonus Solar 2025–2026: Superbonus 110%, Current Deductions, Sicily & ROI Guide
Complete guide to Italy's Superbonus solar programs: Superbonus 110% history, current 50–65% deductions, Sicily programs, application steps.
