Prospect of Rooftop Solar System

Prospect of Rooftop Solar PV system
S.K. Choudhary
STO, Department of FMPE
CAE, Dr RPCAU, Pusa
Introduction
In India, millions of homes and commercial buildings have rooftops that receive sufficient
sunlight during the day. These are ideal for utilizing the sun’s energy by converting it into electric
power. This can be done by adding an interface known as an inverter to convert the DC power
generated by the solar panels on the rooftop to AC power as most appliances/devices run on
AC. Although rooftops can be used for creating rooftop energy sources, there are various
factors to be considered before deciding to install solar panels on a rooftop. Earlier it was not
getting popular because of lack of technological knowhow and high cost involved. But, recent
advancement has overcome many of the earlier challenges and has also reduced the costs
drastically. The cost of electricity production using Solar PV is now comparable with the cost of
per unit electricity produced using Thermal Power Plant.
The Bihar government has also announced in 2017 a mega renewable power policy, to add
3400 MW in 5 years. Under the policy, the state government is considering setting up of 2984
MW capacity based on solar energy, 282 MW on biogas and 200 MW small hydro power plants.
Out of the total solar capacity, the state government plans to set up 1000 MW rooftop solar
projects and 100 MW as mini grid project (The economic times, 29th May 2017).
Mechanism in Solar PV technology
Solar Panel is the most important component of solar PV system. It is made up of

semiconductor material. It converts solar energy from incoming solar light into Direct Current
(DC) electricity. This DC electricity may be directly used or maybe converted to AC before
using it. A Solar Panel is made up of smaller units of semiconductor p-n junction diodes, known
as “Solar Cells”.
Suitability of Site
For deciding the suitability of any site for installation of Solar PV system, first thing which we
need to see is open space in South side. There should be no obstacle like a building, a tree or
some other structure which may cast a shadow over the solar panels. In case of shadow over
solar panel, the efficiency of the system is drastically reduced.
Methods of Using Solar PV
The term “Rooftop solar” is very popular these days and the government is also providing
subsidies for its promotion. Rooftop solar is the name given to solar PV system installed on the
roof of public and private buildings, due to limited space available on the ground. It can be On-
Grid system, Off-Grid system or Hybrid system depending on the method of use.
On-Grid solar PV System:
 The on-grid system in which the rooftop solar system is integrated with the main grid
supply. This system allows power to be used from the grid supply only when the rooftop
solar system is unable to supply the required power. Thus, a well-planned rooftop
system can efficiently supply power without using grid supply saving expenses otherwise
incurred on using power from the grid. In fact, this system can earn revenues as
any excess power generated can be fed to the grid for which distribution company
(DISCOMs) pay compensation using ‘net metering’.
Off- Grid Solar PV System:
 The off-grid system in which the rooftop solar system is not linked to the main grid. This
system can run on its own with its own battery. The solar power generated from the
rooftop solar system charges the battery which is then used to power various
applications. This system is very useful when there is no grid supply or when the supply
is very erratic with frequent breakdowns.
Hybrid System:
 The third one is the hybrid system in which both on-grid and off-grid systems work in
tandem. In this type of system, though a battery is used, the advantage here is that after
the battery is fully charged the excess power generated is fed to the grid which
generates additional revenues for the consumer.
Practicability of rooftops for generating power :

For home solar rooftop systems, the nature of the roof is very important to determine its
practicability. The factors that need to be considered are as follows:
 The availability of sunlight throughout the year and the area available on the rooftop is
important to calculate the power that can be generated. A typical home solar panel can
produce about 290 watts by harnessing one hour of direct sunlight. If sunlight falls for 8 hours
then the solar panel can produce 2320 watts electric power.
 The orientation of the rooftop towards the sun is important. Exposure towards the south
is the ideal orientation for the panel. If the roof is naturally sloping and facing south then it is
very ideal for installing rooftop solar panels. This is because India is situated in the northern
hemisphere and south facing rooftops receive the maximum amount of sunlight as the earth
rotates on its own axis at an inclination. However, if the roof is flat solar panels will need to
be placed at an angle facing south to receive the maximum possible sunlight. Further, high
rise buildings should not hinder the exposure of the solar panels to sunlight.
 The decision on choosing a suitable type of rooftop solar system impacts the cost of the
system. Each type involves different components and the costs could vary depending on
them.
Other important components of a Solar PV system
 Battery
 Charge controller
 Inverter
Battery :
In solar PV system generally deep-cycle lead-acid batteries of either the flooded type or the
sealed type are used. Flooded batteries are filled with liquid. These are the standard,
economical deep cycle batteries.
Sealed batteries use saturated pads between the plates. They are also called "valve-regulated"
or simply "maintenance-free” batteries.
Charge Controller:
Charge controllers are used in the solar PV system to regulate the charging and discharging of
batteries. There are two types of charge controllers used in solar PV system - Maximum Power
Point Tracker (MPPT) type and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) type. Generally, MPPT type
charge controller is preferred as it always tries to operate the system at maximum power output
point. But, MPPT controllers are costlier than PWM controllers. If we are using solar Inverter in
the system then we don’t require a separate charge controller as it is in-built in the inverter.
Inverter:
An inverter is a device that converts Direct Current (DC) into alternating current (AC) of a higher
voltage. The solar inverter is often one of the most expensive parts in the PV system. There are
two types of Inverters - True Sine Wave Inverters and Modified Sine Wave Inverter. True Sine
wave Inverters are costlier and all the appliances run smoothly on it. Modified Sine wave
Inverter is basically a stepped square wave inverter. It is cheaper. Many appliances find it
difficult to work properly on this inverter and may have reduced efficiencies.
Financial assistance/subsidy provided by MNRE for Individual solar roof system.

The initial costs involved with the installation of solar roof systems may be a crucial factor
hindering the adoption of solar energy, especially in the residential sector where almost every
user across the country gets subsidized electricity. In its official memorandum, the
MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable energy) states that subsidy under phase II grid
connected solar rooftop programme will be available to all eligible household for installation of
rooftop solar as per regulations of the respective state electricity regulatory commissions
(SERS) and provisions of the programme implementation guidelines. According to the MNRE
statement, rooftop solar installation up to 3 KW capacities will qualify for subsidy of 40% and up
to 10KW will get subsidy of 40% for the first 3KW and 20% for remaining capacity, and for
installation above 10 KW, it is 40% for the first 3 KW and 20% for remaining 7 KW. However,
there is no subsidy beyond 10 KW capacities.
Conclusion:
Rooftop solar systems are becoming a popular source of electric power because it is a
renewable energy source and it is abundantly available during the day. With careful planning,
implementing an appropriate rooftop solar system can translate into never-ending electric power
supply at minimal recurring expenses. The homeowner can make a cost analysis and decide on
the quantum of electricity to be produced so as to be profitable. This could include meeting the
home owner’s power needs and the amount of power that can be transferred to the grid to
generate additional revenues.
References.
1. The Economic Times 29tht May 2017, 21st May 2019 edition.
2. MNRE guidelines for installing solar rooftop system, dated 3rd August 2017.
3. MNRE (2017). Clarification regarding Phase II of the Grid Connected Rooftop

Solar (RTS) Programme, No. 318/331/2017 GCRT, 30th January 2020.

Prospect of Rooftop Solar System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Prospect of Rooftop Solar System

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Prospect of Rooftop Solar System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Prospect of Rooftop Solar PV system

Mechanism in Solar PV technology

Solar Panel is the most important component of solar PV system. It is made up of

On-Grid solar PV System:

Practicability of rooftops for generating power :

Financial assistance/subsidy provided by MNRE for Individual solar roof system.

3. MNRE (2017). Clarification regarding Phase II of the Grid Connected Rooftop

You might also like