Online application for Rooftop Solar in India

The government has set up a centralised portal under MNRE that will allow consumers to apply for installation of solar rooftops online. Residential, commercial and industrial consumers are all eligible to apply. They are required to input the area available and their power requirement on an application form available on the website, based on which they will be assisted.

Though solar rooftop was being neglected in the last few years, the government of India has finally woken up to address the immediate need of the nation. India plans to install 40 GW of solar rooftop installations by 2022. It is good to see the government now addressing the needs of small residential players as well. Solar power from rooftop can be generated at Rs. 7/ kWh (11c), which means that it is substantially cheaper than commercial and industrial tariffs in a lot of places.

Residential, government, social and institutional segments will be entitled to receive a 30% capital subsidy for rooftop solar installations. This subsidy is not available for commercial and industrial customers because they can avail other benefits like accelerated depreciation, tax holidays, excise duty exemptions. India increased its rooftop budget by a significant 730%, to INR 5000 crores ($750 million) in January this year. The subsidy level could reach as far as 70% for states such as Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar. Solar Energy Corporation of India and other financial institutions like State Bank of India will provide these subsidies through various state government schemes.

Remote monitoring of Solar Pumps in India

In another news, an Indo-US grant will be provided to a Hyderabad based renewable energy firm Shri Shakti Alternative Energy Ltd (SSAEL). The company intends to develop a cloud-based platform to monitor the performance of solar pumps and solar plants through data and GSM technology. SSAEL received this grant under the PACEsetter or Programme for Advancement of Clean Energy. This program is a JV between the Indian government and the US Department. After the success of solar water pumps in Rajasthan, solar pumps are gaining traction throughout the country, though the subsidy scheme for solar water pumps differs from state to state. In Rajasthan a farmer typically pays just 14% of the cost of a solar water pump.

As per the program, SSAEL will need to demonstrate the tracking of both solar pumps and off-grid power plants for 400 solar pumps and 100 solar PV plants in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Many international solar installers like SunPower and solar inverter manufacturers like SolarEdge, are already providing the remote monitoring of their solar installations to the customers either on an app or on a web based interface. It will be good to see a local version succeed in India too. All these initiatives prove the seriousness around the solar business and the fact that solar energy is poised to become the gen next source of power.