New to Solar? We have you Covered!
OUR SUN
Our SUN makes a lot of energy per hour: Roughly 3.8 x 10^23 Units(KWh).
But only a tiny fraction will fall on your house in the form of light energy: 1 KWh (1000W per hour) per Square Meter under ideal conditions*. This is also called 1 SUN.
*Ideal condition for your house will be 12 noon on the longest day of the year.
But only a tiny fraction will fall on your house in the form of light energy: 1 KWh (1000W per hour) per Square Meter under ideal conditions*. This is also called 1 SUN.
*Ideal condition for your house will be 12 noon on the longest day of the year.
SOLAR PANELS
Solar Panels can transform that Light Energy into Electrical Energy. But the technology is not perfect!
A 540W Monocrystaline Panels, with 2.57 Sq. Mtr area, is able to generate only 210 Watts(540W divided by 2.57 Sq. Mtr) from the available 1000 Watts of solar light energy falling on 1 square meter. Or a conversion ratio of 21%. This number is also called the EFFICIENCY of the panel.
A 540W Monocrystaline Panels, with 2.57 Sq. Mtr area, is able to generate only 210 Watts(540W divided by 2.57 Sq. Mtr) from the available 1000 Watts of solar light energy falling on 1 square meter. Or a conversion ratio of 21%. This number is also called the EFFICIENCY of the panel.
SOLAR INVERTER
Solar panels, like batteries, produce Direct Current. But this type of Electrical Energy is not usable in your house,
as all your appliances require a special type of electrical energy called Alternating Current or AC.
And just like your other 'inverter', a Solar Inverter will invert/convert Direct Current(DC) into a usable, 'grid-matching' Alternating Current(AC). Remember: both batteries and solar panels make Direct Current.
The most basic and the most common type of solar inverter is an on-grid inverter. This inverter requires grid voltage to determine its ouput and does not work during power cuts!
And just like your other 'inverter', a Solar Inverter will invert/convert Direct Current(DC) into a usable, 'grid-matching' Alternating Current(AC). Remember: both batteries and solar panels make Direct Current.
The most basic and the most common type of solar inverter is an on-grid inverter. This inverter requires grid voltage to determine its ouput and does not work during power cuts!
SOLAR HYBRID INVERTER
"Will solar give me energy when there is a power cut?" This is the most common question. And the answer is: If you opt for a hybrid inverter with battery, then your solar plant will
give you added benefit of power backup during power cuts. Rule of thumb: the more the number of batteries, the longer the power backup
The downside is that these systems are very expensive, and often not required if your area does not have long power cuts, or if you already have a UPS.
The downside is that these systems are very expensive, and often not required if your area does not have long power cuts, or if you already have a UPS.
NET METERING
NET METERING is how you take full benefit of the energy generated by your Solar Plant!
Your DISCOM/ Electrical Department will install a special meter on your premises called the Bi-Directional Meter. This type of meter is able to record units of energy flowing in either direction. That is, into your house FROM the grid called the IMPORT, and out of your house TO the grid called the EXPORT.
Your DISCOM/ Electrical Department will install a special meter on your premises called the Bi-Directional Meter. This type of meter is able to record units of energy flowing in either direction. That is, into your house FROM the grid called the IMPORT, and out of your house TO the grid called the EXPORT.
During Sun hours, your plant will generate enough energy for your house and any excess energy will flow out to the grid, in the form of EXPORT.
During night time, you will take energy from the grid, and this is the IMPORT.
NET METERING means that you will be billed only for IMPORT minus EXPORT or the NET.
For those wondering, 'what happens if this is a negative amount', can skip to the 'SOLAR BILL' section.
NET METERING means that you will be billed only for IMPORT minus EXPORT or the NET.
For those wondering, 'what happens if this is a negative amount', can skip to the 'SOLAR BILL' section.
SOLAR METER
You may be wondering: What happens to my existing meter?
The answer is that the existing meter is re-purposed to measure the total production of your solar plant. It will not give any indication of consumption, only production. It will be referred to as the 'Solar Meter'.
The answer is that the existing meter is re-purposed to measure the total production of your solar plant. It will not give any indication of consumption, only production. It will be referred to as the 'Solar Meter'.
NET METERING IMAGE
The diagram above explains how NET-METERING is done.
During the day, Solar Panels convert Sun's energy to DC electricity, which is converted to AC by the Inverter. The Solar Meter records the produced energy units, and the house then consumes some of this produced energy. The excess energy is given back to the grid, and recorded as the EXPORT in the netmeter.
During night time, the house consumes energy from the grid, and this energy is recorded as IMPORT.
The consumer is charged (or paid back) on the NET, that is, IMPORT minus EXPORT.
During the day, Solar Panels convert Sun's energy to DC electricity, which is converted to AC by the Inverter. The Solar Meter records the produced energy units, and the house then consumes some of this produced energy. The excess energy is given back to the grid, and recorded as the EXPORT in the netmeter.
During night time, the house consumes energy from the grid, and this energy is recorded as IMPORT.
The consumer is charged (or paid back) on the NET, that is, IMPORT minus EXPORT.
SOLAR BILL
A Solar Bill is different from Regular Bills and is a little difficult to read.
a. The bill contains 3 readings instead of just 1.
b. The first reading, with meter number starting with 17, is the Solar Meter reading.
c. This bill indicates that the solar plant produced 860 solar units in this period.
d. The next two readings are from the bi-directional meter, with meter number starting with Q0.
e. The first row is the IMPORT column and indicates that the house imported 170 units in this period.
f. The next is the EXPORT column and indicates the house exported 755 units in this period.
g. The bill amount is Rs. 132/-. These are 'Fixed Charges' and are to be paid.
h. The consumer's acutal bill is the NET of IMPORT - EXPORT. In this case 170 - 755 = -585 Units!
i. Just above the table of meter readings, you will notice data showing that the consumer has a previous balance of -2940 units. After this bill, the balance becomes -3525 units.
j. As this bill is also the settlement bill, the DISCOM is settling Rs. 13,077.75/- with this consumer, calculated at Rs. 3.71/- per unit!
As you can see, NET METERING allows a consumer to not only save on bill, but also earn from his solar plant!
a. The bill contains 3 readings instead of just 1.
b. The first reading, with meter number starting with 17, is the Solar Meter reading.
c. This bill indicates that the solar plant produced 860 solar units in this period.
d. The next two readings are from the bi-directional meter, with meter number starting with Q0.
e. The first row is the IMPORT column and indicates that the house imported 170 units in this period.
f. The next is the EXPORT column and indicates the house exported 755 units in this period.
g. The bill amount is Rs. 132/-. These are 'Fixed Charges' and are to be paid.
h. The consumer's acutal bill is the NET of IMPORT - EXPORT. In this case 170 - 755 = -585 Units!
i. Just above the table of meter readings, you will notice data showing that the consumer has a previous balance of -2940 units. After this bill, the balance becomes -3525 units.
j. As this bill is also the settlement bill, the DISCOM is settling Rs. 13,077.75/- with this consumer, calculated at Rs. 3.71/- per unit!
As you can see, NET METERING allows a consumer to not only save on bill, but also earn from his solar plant!
GROUP METERING
Group Metering is a special case of net-metering, in which the generated units from your solar plant can also be adjusted against another bill or bills. The only requirement is that the
name on the non-solar bill(child connection) has to match the name on the solar bill (parent connection). In this way, a single solar plant can you benefits on many bills.