A press note from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Energy and Development, Bengaluru, an institute that is working under Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Government of Karnataka, informs about a workshop of rooftop solar photovoltaic power systems and net energy metering.

Edited excerpts from the press note:

The Indian power sector is facing multiple crises, ranging from financial viability of distribution utilities to the challenges in ensuring quality power supply for all while trying to reduce adverse local socio-environmental impacts. It is well accepted that current fossil fuel based power is unsustainable and in the long term, a shift to renewable sources is inevitable. Such a scenario requires innovative policies which can help address more than one crises. Promoting Roof Top Photo Voltaics for self consumption and with Net metering is one such policy approach.

In this decade advancement in solar technologies has brought down the cost of solar PV modules drastically making solar power projects economically viable. Added to this the State Government has in its policy provided for net metering arrangement and has provided relatively high rates for buy back for power @ Rs. 9.56 (without subsidy) and Rs 7.20 (with subsidy), whereas the energy charges in Bengaluru from Domestic customers (high end consumption) @ Rs 5.60 (> 200 kWh) and from commercial customers @ Rs 7.20 (>50 kWh). Thus the Govt. has made the roof top solar scheme very attractive and lucrative so that more and more house owners come forward to install it.

Since RTPVS is a renewable source of energy, it is green power, does not require dedicated land and saves on precious water use; or use of natural resources such as coal for power generation it is an environmentally benign option. Further, with grid interconnection the need for use of batteries, which have significant environmental implications, is also avoided.

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, Government of Karnataka has launched the grid-connected Rooftop SPV for self-consumption with net-metering that seeks to tap solar power generated by individual consumers. Under Solar Karnataka Programme it is targeted for 25000 Solar Roof Tops of 5 to 10 Kwp with Net Metering with a 250 MW potential during next 5 years with a generation potential of 350 MU. If the potential is fully exploited, it will pave way for considerable  reduction in the demand-supply gap in the energy sector.

In this backdrop Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural energy and Development, Bengaluru-560064 is organizing a one day workshop on RTPVS and Net Energy Metering in association with the Energy Department, Govt. of Karnataka at its campus at Srirampura Cross, Jakkur on November 29, 2014 between 10.00 AM and 5.00 P.M to create awareness and educate the population, who are desirous of installing roof top SPV’s so that they are provided all the required information right from procedures, technology, subsidies, types of equipment and materials available in the market, etc., with the sole objective of convincing the participants to go ahead and install the systems. Experts Speakers from BESCOM, KREDL, KERC,  CPRI and NABARD will speak on Applied technologies, Govt. Policies, Notifications, Subsidies and Procedure for getting connection and loan facility etc. Solar PV rooftop installers will display their products and customers can have direct interaction with them.

This workshop will help the participants to identify right system suited to their use and all queries shall be answered by the experts concerned. All those who are interested in installing roof top SPV system and interested in participating in the workshop are welcome and are required to register with MGIRED. Since there is scope for limited participation, only the first 80 will be registered and allowed to participate on first come first serve basis. It is hoped that if a few who attend the workshop are motivated and will install RT SPV system, then their neighbors and friends will also be influenced  by the success which will help in spread of the use of this technology in Bengaluru and elsewhere.

For more details about registration one can visit MGIRED website: www.mgired.kar.nic.in, or contact email: mgrired@gmail.com or Prof R.S.Verma, Mob: 09900154715 email: or Mr Pramod, Project Manager, Mob: 9620541453, email: mgrired@gmail.com.

Registration fee is Rs 500/- per participant which includes lunch, Tea and hand-outs. A requisition letter/email   for willingness to participate along with details of registration fees remittance may be sent to MGIRED to enable us to register.  Amount may be sent by DD DD in favour of Executive Director, MGIRED or by RTGS to: Executive Director MGIRED to SB A/c NO: 104001010012743, Vijaya Bank Byatarayanpura Branch, IFSC Code: VIJB0001010

The content provided by Punati Sridhar, APCCF & Executive Director, MGIRED, was sent to the media by Karnataka Information Department.

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