With about 300 sunny days in a calendar year, India’s solar potential is one of the highest in the world. With a strong policy focus, India, today, is one of the few countries to have surpassed the figure of 10 GW installed solar capacity. In achieving this feat, India shares the stage with countries such as Germany, United States of America and China, some of the best known countries when it comes to utilizing the solar power.

It was in the year 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the office, he announced a massive target of achieving 100 GW of installed solar capacity by the year 2022, a five-fold increase in the previous target of 20 GW. This has since, been the new Solar Mission. Out of the 100GW target set, 40GW has been earmarked to be achieved from rooftop solar. While the target is stiff, the central and the state governments have been making constant efforts and endeavors through various policies as well as financial incentives to ensure that the country achieves the solar targets. Since each state in India today has a different energy requirement as well as solar potential, each state has come up with its own individual solar policies and net metering regulations.

The industrial segment is the largest contributor to the 1 GW installed rooftop capacity at 40% and both residential and commercial have almost equal contribution at 25%. The remaining capacity has been installed by government buildings. Almost 85% of the projects have been installed under the Capex model and the remaining 15% of the projects have been installed under the Opex/RESCO/BOOT model.

When we talk about individual states in the country, Tamil Nadu has the highest installed rooftop solar capacity in India of 132 MW followed by Maharashtra at 89 MW, Gujarat at 69 MW, Haryana at 57 MW and Punjab at 55 MW. The largest rooftop solar plant is installed in Beas, Punjab and has a total capacity of 11.5 MW. Out of the 40GW target that has been set to be achieved by 2022, each state has its own target to achieve.

As all the states strive to reach their individual target and as India inches closer towards the 100GW mark, at NXT SOLUTIONS we are focusing on Punjab and Haryana as we are looking a virgin market.

Advantages
Individual Benefits:-

1)      Net metering allows you to get full retail value for the electricity you produce by permitting you to put any excess electricity you generate back in to the electric grid and retrieve it later, free of charge.

2)      Depreciation benefit of 80% in first year is very beneficial to client.

3)      OPEX/RESCO Model offers saving of client from day 1 as the energy charges are about 30% less from day 1.

4)      This saving of 30% will go up to 50% as energy charges are going to increase as we are going to charge fix rate unit for decided period.

5)      Net Metering accurately captures energy generated and consumed, 

6)      Reduced pressure on the local electricity grid.

7)      Increased local energy Independence.

8)      Increased property Values.

9)      Reduced peak power demands.

10)   Increased in-state electricity generation.

11)   More Visible indicators of community support for clean energy,

12)   Regional Economic Growth.

13)   No Battery storage system needed.

14)   Solar Power produced in winter saves on summer costs.

15)   No - Maintenance- Solar Power without hassles.

Environmental Benefits :-

1.       Generation of Environment friendly, clean energy.

2.       Reduces carbon (CO2) emissions.

3.       No pollution healthy Environment.

4.       Helps in controlling Global Warming

5.       Saving of fossils fuels like coal, wood and other petroleum products.

Net Metering Principle

Net metering is the process through which one attains a “dual-benefit “by installing a solar power plant on the roof, open space, walls of the building to generate electricity. Generated power is first used in the building as per the requirement and the surplus power is fed to the grid of utility (PSPCL). 

A bi-directional meter is installed in the supply line to register import and export of power. Net metering arrangements, thus, combine elements of captive power consumption and exchange of power with the utility. The bill is issued by PSPCL after adjustment of import and export of power.

Working Principle

• Under Net Metering policy electric customers generate their own electricity from a solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed on the roof top of the building. The output of the panels (DC electricity) is connected to the power conditioning unit / inverter which converts DC Power to AC Power.
• The inverter output is connected to the control panel / distribution board of the building to utilize the power.
• The inverter synchronizes with the grid to power the loads with preference of consuming solar power first.
• The power generated in excess of the owner’s electricity consumption is fed into the grid through a bi-directional energy meter capable of registering both import and export of electricity.
• The arrangement of a net metering system utilizes the same service line for excess power injection into the grid which is already being used by the consumer for drawl of power from utility network.
• Net-Metering allows households to generate electricity and set off the power produced against the power used from the grid and consumer pays only for the “net” number of units (difference between import and export energy) used each month.
• In the event the consumer produces power in excess of his usage in a particular month, the customer’s energy charge becomes zero and the remaining units are credited and carried