Fuel costs are high in most industries, and rising costs make it hard to maintain profitability. Alternative fuels like wind, solar, and tidal power are available on the market, each with advantages and disadvantages. Solar energy is India’s most popular non-conventional source due to its low maintenance costs and the tropical sun that shines for most of the year. Considering solar energy as a viable option for your plant, it is essential to consider all factors that could affect your business.
Can I move my solar system to my existing building?
Due to India’s location in the southern hemisphere, the solar panels must be tilted towards the south. Do you have a roof with sloping slopes facing south? You can save money if you have such a roof. You should also check if you have high-rises or other tall structures nearby. Your solar panels won’t receive enough sunlight if many tall buildings are nearby. The longer your solar panel is exposed to direct sunlight, the more viable it will be.
Am I ready to invest in solar energy at a high cost?
After you have built up the infrastructure for your plant, the time has come to consider the financing. Solar energy is expensive in the beginning, but it becomes more viable as time goes on. Installing solar panels that will meet your needs is the first step. Then, connect these panels to essential electric equipment and solar power generator units. To maintain your plant, you will also need a monitoring and maintenance system. You will need to spend more money on customizing rooftops and vacant areas around your business. You must also include the cost of installing solar-powered charging stations for electric vehicles.
What are the main components of a solar power generation unit?
Solar panels, as we have already mentioned, are the main components of solar energy. The solar panels’ photovoltaics convert the energy from the sun into DC power, which can then be stored in batteries. If you wish to use this energy in your plant, converters are required. Monitoring devices will be needed to ensure that the voltage and frequency of the power supply are as expected. For safety, you must install a network of switches, wires, and protection devices to ensure connectivity and safety within the plant.
How can I quickly calculate the cost of my project? What are some general guidelines?
Here are some estimates that will help you get started. In India, you can get solar power for eight hours on average. Solar energy is ideal for providing 300 Watts of control in one hour. Eight hours of sunshine will produce 2,400 Watts or 2.4KW per panel. If you want to generate 240kWh of electricity, you’ll need 100 panels.
Solar panels are 77×21 inches and cover an area of approximately 11 square feet. One hundred panels would cover an area of 1,100 square feet.
The thumb rule to determine the space required is that a 1kW rooftop system requires approximately ten sq. The shadow-free area is about 100 sq. ft (about 10 meters). The actual size of the solar system will depend on many factors, including local conditions such as weather, solar radiation, and the efficiency of the solar modules.
The number of panels required and the space needed will increase if these factors are not optimal, such as less than 8 hours of shadow-free solar radiation.
A panel typically weighs 20 pounds. One hundred panels weigh around 2,000 pounds or nearly 1 ton. If you want to install solar panels on your roof, ensure that there is enough room to accommodate the large installation. Your structures must also be strong enough for their weight.
What government programs and subsidies are available to me? What is the process?
Many Government Schemes will make solar energy affordable and sustainable for you. For this purpose, all Indian states and union territories are divided into different groups. You will receive 30% of your installation costs in the general category. In certain conditions, you can get 70% of benchmarked costs. You will be responsible for the initial cost in any event. Several State Nodal Agencies support schemes that could provide extra support. You can sell excess electricity to state electricity distributors and increase your revenue. Know the details about government schemes and subsidies.