• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech

Indian Solar Company Azure Power Trades Down In IPO

By
Katie Fehrenbacher
Katie Fehrenbacher
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Katie Fehrenbacher
Katie Fehrenbacher
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 12, 2016, 2:36 PM ET
Aerial Views Of First Solar's Desert Sunlight Solar Farm
Solar panels are seen in this aerial photograph of First Solar Inc.'s Desert Sunlight Solar Farm in Mojave Desert, California, U.S., on Friday, April 5, 2013. First Solar Inc., the largest thin-film panel manufacturer, sees “significant growth” in renewable energy projects being developed in the Middle East and North Africa by the end of 2014. Photographer: Tim Rue/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesTim Rue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A company that installs solar panels in India has taken the IPO plunge on the New York Stock Exchange, braving one of the slowest markets for new issues since the financial crisis.

Azure Power, based in New Delhi, priced its shares at $18, below its previous estimated range of $21 to $23. Then after trading started on Wednesday, the company’s shares—which trade under the symbol “AZRE” —tumbled over 17% to below $15 with a couple hours left in the day’s session.

The weak reception likely reflects both the difficult IPO market, but also investors’ reception to solar stocks in general. While solar stocks have recently been on an upswing, solar companies have generally seen their shares fall steadily over the past few years.

Shares in Elon Musk’s solar installer SolarCity (SCTY) were at $19.90 in mid-day trading on Wednesday, or nearly 66% below their $58.87 52-week high. Shares in solar panel maker and project developer SunPower (SPWR) are down nearly 75% from their 52-week high.

For more on why Wall Street isn’t a fan of the Tesla/SolarCity deal watch our video.

Even though the U.S. is setting records for the amount of solar panels being installed, investors appear wary of the uncertainty about state and federal regulations, and possibly low oil prices—although the two are not directly connected.

Like with the booming solar market in the U.S., solar panels are being sold in India in increasing numbers. The country has a growing population and a need for new sources of electricity, both clean and fossil fuel-based.

Azure Power—which installs solar panels in both large ground-mounted projects for utilities and also on rooftops for companies—plans to have 520 megawatts of solar panels operating by the end of the year. That’s enough power for close to 100,000 average American homes (likely many more in India). By the end of 2017, the company wants to raise that to 1 gigawatt, and then to 5 gigawatts by the end of 2020.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The Indian government is seeking to have 100 gigawatts of solar installed nationwide by 2022.

But the market for solar in India is difficult, too. As SunPower CEO Tom Werner pointed out during an interview with Fortune last year, accessing financing and land for solar projects can be difficult in India, and the prices that emerge through India’s solar power auctions can be extremely low, delivering slim profit margins. The country also has a hodgepodge of regulations across its different states, which makes building solar projects challenging.

Azure Power only generated $38.9 million of operating revenue from the sale of solar power for the fiscal year ending March 31. Over the same period, the company lost $24.5 million.

But that Azure Power—a venture capital backed startup founded in 2007—has grown into a company that can compete with First Solar and Softbank is a feat. The company was founded by Indian entrepreneur Inderpreet Wadhwa, who spent years in the U.S. getting an MBA and working at tech companies like Oracle and a consumer marketing software startup called Loyalty Lab.

Before founding the company, he had no solar industry experience. He raised funding from early investors Foundation Capital and Helion Venture Partners.

 

About the Author
By Katie Fehrenbacher
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Ukraine will have the most important defense industrial base in the free world, former CIA chief predicts
InnovationDefense
Ukraine will have the most important defense industrial base in the free world, former CIA chief predicts
By Jason MaApril 10, 2026
2 hours ago
A hacker in a dark hoodie and wearing a creepy white mask sits at a keyboard in front of multiple computer monitors in a dark, blue-shaded room.
CybersecurityAnthropic
Anthropic is limiting access to its latest AI model, Mythos. The real risks may already be out there
By Beatrice NolanApril 10, 2026
2 hours ago
‘Downward mobility is incredibly radicalizing’: The college bargain is broken. What comes next could reshape America
EconomyColleges and Universities
‘Downward mobility is incredibly radicalizing’: The college bargain is broken. What comes next could reshape America
By Nick LichtenbergApril 10, 2026
4 hours ago
Who’s really in control as AI and Big Tech race ahead?
MagazineEurope
Who’s really in control as AI and Big Tech race ahead?
By Francesca CassidyApril 10, 2026
6 hours ago
Photo: Donald Trump
EconomyMarkets
U.S. and Iran begin peace talks as Trump’s White House goes to war against the media, insider traders, and the Pope
By Jim EdwardsApril 10, 2026
7 hours ago
Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2019 in Aspen, Colo. (Photo: Fortune)
NewslettersFortune Tech
Who’s speaking at Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2026
By Andrew NuscaApril 10, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
Economy
The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
1 day ago
A Meta employee created a dashboard so coworkers can compete to be the company's No. 1 AI token user—and Zuckerberg doesn't even rank in the top 250
AI
A Meta employee created a dashboard so coworkers can compete to be the company's No. 1 AI token user—and Zuckerberg doesn't even rank in the top 250
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
1 day ago
Mark Cuban admits he made a mistake letting go of the Mavericks: 'I don't regret selling. I regret who I sold to'
Investing
Mark Cuban admits he made a mistake letting go of the Mavericks: 'I don't regret selling. I regret who I sold to'
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
1 day ago
Gen Z doesn't want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it's reshaping the entire workforce
Success
Gen Z doesn't want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it's reshaping the entire workforce
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
1 day ago
'I hate working 5 days': Zoom CEO says traditional work schedules are becoming obsolete—and predicts a 3-day workweek by 2031
Success
'I hate working 5 days': Zoom CEO says traditional work schedules are becoming obsolete—and predicts a 3-day workweek by 2031
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of April 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 9, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.