Grid interactive Solar Roof Top Power System

There is a large potential available for generating solar power using unutiiized space on rooftops and wastelands around buildings. Small quantities of power generated by each individual household. industrial buildings commercial buildings or any other type of building can be used to partly fulfill the requirement of the building occupants and surplus. if any. can be fed into the grid. The distribution companies will allow power to feed into the grid and extending net metering facility to the consumers.

In grid interactive rooftop or small SPV systems. the DC power generated from SPV panel is converted to AC power using power conditioning unit and is led to the grid. The generated power during the day time can be utilized fully by powering captive loads and excess power can be fed to the grid as long as grid is available. In case where Solar Power is not sufficient due to cloud cover or during the night hours, the captive loads are served by drawing power from the grid. The grid interactive roof top solar system can work on net metering basis wherein the beneficiary pays to the utility on net meter reading basis only.

Advantages

• Utilization of vacant rooftop for power generation.
• Can generate power for self consumption and feed excess power to the Grid.
• Provision for settlement of registered surplus energy fed to the grid on monthly basis.
• Surplus energy injected shall be considered for payment by the DISCOM at Cost to Serve Price as decided by the state energy agencies.
• Generation of environmental friendly green energy.
• Reduction in diesel consumption where DG back-up is provided.
• Capital subsidies from Govt. of India and state governments

Requirements

• A minimum vacant roof area of 10 Sq.mtr or 100 Sq.ft is required for installation of 1 KWp system.
• Mandatory safety precautions / features shall be installed as per the norms.
• A single bi-directional meters shall be installed for export and import.
• The standard equipment as per the norms of MNRE / state TRANSCO / DISCOM shall only be installed.
• The vendor executing the turn key solution should be a manufacturer / supplier / system integrator empanelled by state agencies.

Incentives

• Central financial Assistance upto 30% of the system cost with a ceiling of Rs.22.500 per KWp may be provided by MNRE as per the prescribed eligibility criteria. The MNRE subsidy is limited to residential buildings and institutions (hospitals. educational institutions. etc). Schools. health institutions including medical colleges & hospitals. universities. educational institutions. Community centres. welfare homes. old age homes. Orphanages. common service centres. common workshops for artisans or craftsman. facilities for use of community. Trust/ NGOs/ Voluntary Organizations [Training institutions. any other establishments for common public use (applicable to non—profit organizations only. except Government buildings .Government institutions. PSUs. Private. commercial and industrial sectors) are eligible for MNRE subsidy.
• The State Govt. will provide 20% subsidy subject  to ceiling of Rs.15,000 per KWp for installation of roof top system upto 1 KWp capacity at single location in domestic sector only. until 3 MW aggregate capacity is reached. This will be in addition to the eligible Central Financial Assistance. New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (NREDCAP) will extend 20% subsidy subject to ceiling of Rs. 15.000 per KWp for installations in Government buildings.
• The consumers are free to choose either net or gross meter option for sale of power to DISCOM and the applicable tariff for either of the cases shall be equal to average cost to serve of the DISCOM which will be determined by state agency every year.
• The projects of capacity upto 1000 KWp at a single location will be permitted.
• Permissions will be given to the group of persons / society to set up solar power projects and will be treated as collective generation for supply of power to the households of each society / group member.

Procedure for getting Clearance in AP

• The interested consumer may contact the District Office, NREDCAP  or DE /ADE, APDlSCOM / Online service centres of DISCOM or the NREDCAP empanelled system integrators, for complete information, application formats, etc.
• The consumer shall make an application in the prescribed format to DISCOM for setting up a Grid connected roof top system along with the necessary information / document on system size, inter - connection voltage, choice of either gross or net metering option, personal information etc., by paying an application fee of Rs.25/-. The eligible Developer / Societies / Groups shall pay application fee through online or by cash. The maximum allowed capacity under single phase service is 3 KWp and maximum allowed SPV plant capacity under LT Category is 56 KWp.
• The DISCOM personnel will conduct feasibility analysis within 7 working days form date of submission of application and give its approval based on feasibility. In absence of any intimation from the DISCOM within this time period, it shall be considered as deemed approval.
• The consumer shall enter into agreement with DISCOM in the prescribed format.
• The approval shall contain maximum permissible capacity of the SPV system and shall be valid for a period of 3 months from the date of approval.
• The consumers shall install the SPV system through NREDCAP empanelled suppliers and request DISCOM authorities for inspection within 3 months of receiving approval.
• On inspection of the equipment, SPV system shall be synchronized within 7 working days of inspection approval. provided the systems are installed as per the norms and standards.
• Upon synchronization of SPV plant to the grid. the DISCOM personnel shall inspect. calibrate and seal the bi-directional meter.
• NREDCAP shall be the Nodal Agency for processing and / or release of MNRE and Govt. of A.P. subsidy as per application in the prescribed format to NREDCAP.

Billing and Payment

Energy settlement shall be done on a monthly basis. Group of persons / societies setting up Solar Roof top Project (SRP) will be treated as collective generation for supply of power to the households of each society /group member. In ease of Apartments / Group Houses. common meter may be used for net metering. The Developer/Consumer has to choose either for Net Metering/ Gross Metering at the time of registering the application.

Net Metering

The energy generated from solar Rooftop Project (SRP) shall be adjusted against the consumption of energy from the DISCOM by the Eligible Developer / consumer every month. In ease of Groups/ Societies. the energy generated shall be prorated as per the installed capacity share indicated in the Agreement between the group/society and DISCOM. This computed energy share shall be adjusted against the consumption of energy for each consumer every month.

• In case of excess generation (after energy adjustment) injected in to DISCOM network in a billing month will be carried forward to next month till every quarter end and settlement will take place on Average Cost of Supply (ACoS) basis for net metering as determined by APERC from time to time.
• In case of excess consumption in any month. payment shall be made by the Eligible Developer / Group / Society for the net energy at the applicable tariff as determined by APERC every year.

Gross Metering

In case of Gross metering. the SPV generator shall pay for the energy utilized in a billing month as per applicable retail supply tariff decided by regulatory commission to the concerned DISCOM and energy supplied to DISCOM by the Developer] Consumer will be paid on monthly. basing on ACoS as determined by APERC from time to time.(net amount will be credited).

System Cost Details

6-500 KWp Capacities

Scope of work of Empanelled Suppliers

• Scope of work covers Design, Supply, Installation and Commissioning of SPV Roof top as per the technical specification.
• The cost is inclusive of all taxes, duties, packing, forwarding and transportation costs upto the site.
• The processing charges payable to AP DISCOMs and also cost of Bi-directional meter shall be borne by the beneficiary. The CEIG inspection charges as per requirement and other additional requirements at the site shall  be borne by the beneficiary.
• Wiring upto Distribution  Board from the SPV Rooftop system will be in the scope of the Supplier. The maximum cable length of 25m for every Solar power plant installed shall be in the scope of the supplier and supply of  excess cable length if required shall be in the scope of purchaser.
• Mounting Structure within the scope of the supplier for flat RCC roofs.  If the roof is not flat and requires additional mounting structure then that cost will have to be separately borne by the applicant.
• Performance testing of the complete system.
• The supplier shall supply spares free of cost for the maintenance of the  offered items during the warranty period.
• A leaflet containing the details of the service centres shall be provided to each purchaser.
• If the operation or use of the system proves to be unsatisfactory during  the warranty period. the supplier shall  replace the faulty ones or carry out necessary repairs as per the warranty terms and conditions.
• The Comprehensive  Maintenance Charges (CMC) from 6th to 10th year to be paid to the supplier is optional.
• The eligible  MNRE and State subsidy will be released based on MNRE / State Govt. Policies and guidelines  either directly to the supplier or to the beneficiary. based on the declaration submitted by the beneficiary.
• The Procedure for availing subsidy and for submission of proposals  shall be as per details.
• The Proposals for installation of the system shall be made before installation of actual system.

Source : New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP)