Rooftop Solar Systems Basics Explained: Your Questions Answered
Introduction:
Rooftop Solar Systems have gained immense popularity, offering a convenient and cost-effective way to harness the power of the sun. However, many people still have questions and misconceptions about these systems. In this blog, we aim to address some of the most frequently asked questions regarding grid-connected Rooftop Solar Systems, helping you understand this technology better.
What is a Solar Rooftop System?
A Solar Rooftop System involves installing solar panels on the roof of residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings. There are two types of Rooftop Solar Systems: (i) Rooftop Solar System with storage facilities using batteries, and (ii) Grid Connected Rooftop Solar System.
What is a Grid?
The grid is the vast network of power lines and infrastructure that transmits and distributes electricity generated at power plants to homes, businesses, and other consumers. It acts as a two-way highway for grid-connected solar rooftop systems.
Grid Connected Solar Rooftop System: How Does It Work?
In a grid-connected solar rooftop system, the solar panels convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. This DC power is then converted into alternating current (AC) using a power conditioning unit and fed into the grid, either at a 33 kV/11 kV three-phase line or a 440/220 Volt three/single-phase line, depending on the system’s capacity and the regulatory framework specified for the respective state.
During the sun, the system generates power that is utilized by powering the captive loads (on-site consumption), and any excess power is fed back into the grid. Conversely, if the solar power generated is insufficient due to cloud cover or other factors, the captive loads can draw power from the grid.
Whom to contact and where Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Systems be Installed?
One can contact rooftop solar installers in your local area. To identify rooftop solar installers near you visit www.solsavi.in , this would easily help you to find an installer. These systems can be installed on the rooftops of residential and commercial complexes, housing societies, community centres, government organizations, private institutions, and more.
Solar Design and Placement:
In the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, rooftop solar installations have emerged as a promising avenue for homeowners and businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint and cut energy costs. However, the effectiveness of a solar system heavily depends on its design and placement.
Solar Energy Metering:
The energy accounting of grid connected rooftop systems can be done on a net metering, net billing/net feed-in or gross feed-in basis.
Read this article to understand the difference: Navigate the buying journey for solar.
Rooftop Solar Savings:
The average cost of grid-connected rooftop solar systems in India is approximately Rs. 50 per watt or Rs. 5.0 crore per MWp capacity. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) provides Central Financial Assistance of Rs. 30,000/- per kW up to 2 kW, Rs. 18,000/- per kW for additional capacity up to 3 kW. Total Subsidy for systems larger than 3 kW is capped at Rs 78,000. Subsidy for Group Housing Society/ Resident Welfare Association. (GHS/RWA) Rs. 18,000 per kW for common facilities, including EV charging, up to 500 kW capacity (@3 kW per house) with the upper limit being inclusive of individual rooftop plants installed by individual residents in the GHS/RWA.
Safety Considerations and Maintenance:
In case of a grid failure, the solar power must be fully utilized or stopped immediately from feeding into the grid to safeguard grid personnel/technicians working on maintenance. This feature is known as ‘Islanding Protection’.
State Policies and Regulations:
For grid-connected rooftop solar systems to be successful, states need to have conducive solar policies that allow grid connectivity. State Regulators must also issue tariff orders for appropriate tariffs, net-metering/feed-in tariffs, and grid connectivity. As of now, 13 states/UTs have notified policies that include the promotion of grid-connected rooftop solar systems with net metering, and 20 State/UT Regulators have issued regulations for net-metering/gross metering.
Potential in India:
According to a study conducted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India has an estimated potential of 124 GWp for SPV Rooftop plants, which can be achieved through active support from the states.
Conclusion:
Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Systems offer numerous advantages, including electricity generation close to the consumption, savings in transmission and distribution losses for the DISCOMs, less implementation time, no requirement for additional land, improvement of tail-end grid voltages, reduction in system congestion, and local employment generation. As the awareness and adoption of this technology continue to grow, it is crucial to address the frequently asked questions and provide clear information to encourage more individuals and businesses to embrace this sustainable energy solution.