The majority of solar power projects that are being developed in India are grid-tied solar installations. That is, solar power systems are connected to the grid of electricity. Compared to battery-powered systems, it is impossible to conserve energy with these kinds of power plants. However, you can export excess energy to the grid and get compensated for it.
Solar Metering Types in India
Indian Discoms provides two main kinds of meters: net and gross. Net metering has also led to another system called net billing. Let’s learn the difference between these three types of designs by using an illustration.
A rooftop solar user can handle an electricity consumption of 15 kW. To meet his energy requirement, the homeowner has set up an interconnected grid in the solar energy plant that has a capacity of 10 kW. In the daytime,e produces 2kW of surplus power thatcano be transferred into the grid. In addition, he draws 7kW of power from the grid.
The metrics will look like this:
Electrical Load: 15kW
Solar Capacity: 10kW
Imports from the grid: 7kWh
Exports into the grid 2kWh
If the solar plant were not there, the electrical bill of a consumer ( @Rs8/unit) would be 15×8= Rs120. Below is a breakdown of how different solar power system metering methods will alter the consumer’s savings.
Net Metering
Net meters are the most profitable choice for solar consumers in India. In this method, the value of the electricity you export to the grid is precisely the electricity you import from the grid. The bill’s calculation will depend on the net worth, i.e., import exports.
From the assumption made above,
Net value = 7kWh – 2kWh = 5kWh
Billing: Rs8 x 5= Rs40
Savings: 120-40= Rs80
Net metering offers many advantages.
Huge savings
There is no requirement to have a storage system
A shorter payback period
Several states in India provide net metering services with up to 1MW of solar power. There are two fundamental requirements the government has to impose on those who avail the facility:
The buyer must install the net meter (a bi-directional meter) that tracks the exports and imports.
The solar panels used in the plant must be made in the United States.
Gross Metering
In a gross-metering system, the consumer cannot directly benefit from the energy generated through solar panels. Instead, the power produced is transferred to the grid at a set rate ( feed-in tariff). Consumers can choose electricity required from the grid at a standard electricity price ( retail tax) to satisfy their point needs.
The bill will include the amount of exported solar energy taken from the account.
So, in the scenario above, suppose that the consumer uses 15kW of electricity from the grid; it will cost the rate of Rs8, equal to Rs120.
The DISCOMs purchase the energy that is transferred to the grid for an amount of Rs3/unit, which is 10kWx 3=30
Billing: Rs120 – Rs30= Rs90
Savings: Rs30
The minimum solar power output needed to provide gross meters is 10kW. This is ideal for firms and private developers installing solar power plants, not for personal consumption but for selling energy.
While gross metering may reduce consumers’ savings, it was designed to benefit both the customer and the power provider.
Discoms asserted that electricity rates include other expenses for business, like transportation costs, as well as net metering undervalued consumers’ surplus energy. Furthermore, power distribution companies cannot operate without earning revenues, ultimately impacting the entire power infrastructure.
Gross metering doesn’t just let users reduce their expenses; it can also allow electricity companies to keep generating revenues.
Prevent Devaluation of Your Energy
It doesn’t matter if you use net metering gr, Oss metering, or net billing; you can reduce energy costs by going solar. But, because the generated sun’s energy can be valued differently in every method, the savings you earn on your monthly electric bill will differ.
You can also avoid the loss of value of your energy by using much of it while it is being produced. If the power you consume during the day is very high, it can reduce the chance of consuming excessive energy. If most power is consumed at night, consider an energy-efficient solar system with a smaller capacity.
About Ornate Solar
Ornate Solar is one of India’s most reputable solar power firms. We have partnered with the most respected solar brands worldwide to offer an affordable, trustworthy, and reliable selection of inverters, solar panels, and other solar products. We have also created India’s first Integrated InRoof system. The Ornate inRoof will be a rooftop built with waterproof solar panels that are appealing.