Traditional Electricity Vs Solar Power in Indian Homes

14 February 2022

12 min read | By admin

Traditional Electricity Vs Solar Power in Indian Homes

Consumers can’t differentiate between traditional electricity or solar power as far as functionality is concerned. But, the modern, aware and conscious consumer today is concerned about where their electricity is coming from. It is well known today that renewable energy, especially solar energy, is superior to coal-based electricity in terms of the impact each has on the environment.

But, how do they compete with each other on other performance parameters such as energy cost, support from government, installation cost etc. to name a few. Electricity produced by your residential rooftop solar works well for you and for the environment. While there has been a steady increase in homeowners switching to green energy, primarily solar, some are still weighing the pros and cons of it.

The residential solar installation offers long-term benefits with little to almost no commitment from homeowners. By educating ourselves about all these benefits solar power offers, a more informed decision can be made.

Is solar power the right choice for Indian homes? Let’s deep and dive and conclude.

Comparison: Solar Power vs Traditional Electricity in Terms of Electricity Tariff (Cost per Unit)

Electricity costs, over the years, have seen major surges due to the fluctuating fuel costs (coal and natural gas), and import restrictions. On an average, per unit of cost of electricity in India is between ₹4-6 if the monthly domestic consumption is between 101–200 units. But, it varies significantly from state to state and if your consumption is higher.

Owning a rooftop solar PV system can help protect your home against these fluctuations in electricity tariffs. This also lowers your monthly electricity bill by up to 90%*. Moreover, the average cost of a rooftop solar structure design and installation is between ₹40,000-60,000 per kWp, which drops even lower after subsidy and accelerated depreciation savings. Considering its remarkable lifespan of over 25 years, you basically get electricity free for life, once you recover your investment cost.

Subsidy Schemes

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is promoting residential solar installations by providing subsidies. A rooftop solar PV system and its installation costs approximately ₹40,000-60,000 per kWp. Another ₹25,000 per kwp will be added to this cost if you decide to use a battery storage solar hybrid system.

The government offers a subsidy of up to 40%* (up to 3 KWp) on the benchmark cost of residential rooftop solar. Furthermore, accelerated depreciation of 80% is also available under the Income Tax Act. As a result, ₹28,000 per kWp would be the approximate cost of a typical rooftop solar PV system after adjusting for subsidy. However, remember that solar benchmark costs vary from state to state and so does the subsidy offered.

Installation Cost

For a domestic consumer, who wasn’t paying anything earlier for the installation in case of traditional electricity, they have to incur an upfront investment, which is the cost of owning a solar power system for their homes. So, definitely they are bound to find Solar power for homes capital-intensive at the onset. Homeowners have to pay a significant upfront cost of buying and installing residential solar equipment in their homes. The solar panels consume the largest share of the overall rooftop solar system. Other equipment needed for a residential solar system includes an inverter, a bi-directional meter for net-metering system, electrical cables, and module mounting structure. Depending on your preference, your solar power installer may also suggest that you buy storage batteries and a monitoring system.

However, this cost is counterbalanced as you start receiving savings in your electricity bill from day 1, and these savings will continue for the entirety of your system’s useful life, which is over 25 years. Moreover, you will also earn electricity credits if you transfer excess energy to the government grid at the end of the billing cycle.

Impact on Environment

Unlike coal-powered electricity that releases toxic visible emissions, solar power generation is a clean and green energy source which is good for the environment. India’s rapidly increasing need for energy is met mostly by coal and this has resulted in growing carbon emissions. However, as efforts are made to boost power generation activities from renewable sources, the carbon emissions will slowly but steadily decline. India has already pledged to go carbon neutral by 2070.

By decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels, solar is contributing to a healthier environment. Every home that decides to go solar can aid in reductions of carbon emission in the country, which is as good as planting numerous trees.

Maintenance

The biggest advantage of going solar is the continuous savings in electricity bills for at least 25 years after installation. Many rooftop solar companies in India provide comprehensive annual maintenance packages for homeowners to provide regular maintenance to their solar system. As the solar system customers are the owners of their system, there is certain regular maintenance which is necessary for optimum generation of solar power from their solar systems.

The advanced rooftop solar structure design is highly potent and durable to withstand harsh climate conditions. The day-to-day solar maintenance is almost non-existent. You are only required to do standard cleaning once a month to ensure there is no dust or debris deposited on the smooth glass surface of your solar panels which is crucial for efficient solar power generation.

Independence in Case of Off-grid (solar plus battery solution)

If you don’t connect your residential rooftop solar system to the grid (also called an off-grid solar system), your house won’t be impacted by power outages. You’ll likely have to get a higher generation capacity system suitable for your maximum consumption that can power your home and still produce a surplus to be stored as backup on your battery storage. This will be used during night hours or on days when energy production is not optimum due to weather conditions.

Is solar power cheaper than grid electricity?

Solar equipment prices have declined sharply over the last 2 decades. The installation of rooftop solar PV systems in India is increasing as government subsidies make solar more affordable for many homeowners.

From a homeowner’s perspective, solar PV is considered competitive when the per-unit cost of solar electricity generated is less than or equal to the per-unit tariff of grid electricity. This is called grid parity. With governments support, both off-grid and rooftop segments are expected to become an economically viable alternative as they achieve price parity with traditional electricity tariffs.

Expert residential rooftop solar providers can answer all your doubts related to solar. HomeScape is one of the top rooftop solar companies in India and has enabled many homeowners to switch to solar. We specialise in on-grid and off-grid solar power systems and provide our customers, an end-to-end solar solution.

Our residential rooftop solar systems are safe, aesthetically pleasing and built to last for more than 25 years. We further ensure complete protection by offering 25 years of performance warranty of your solar system. We also help you monitor the health of your entire solar plant by offering a smart remote monitoring system through a customer app. It gives you a real time solar energy generation, energy used, and money saved, as well as show your environmental contribution.

Contact us for a solar consultation today.

Innovative Solutions Residential solar

How Solar Panels add to the valuation of Homes?

18 January 2022

9 min read | By admin

How Solar Panels add to the valuation of Homes

There aren’t many big home transformations as much like a rooftop solar PV system that adds substantial value from day one and delivers the best ROI for many years to come. Since solar is still relatively new in the market, not many homeowners know how it can add to the valuation of their homes.

Depending on several factors like the type of solar, location of your house and more, your solar investment will yield attractive returns in the long run.

Let’s see how and by how much value a residential solar system adds to your house.

Types of Residential Solar Systems

When you’ve made a decision to buy a rooftop solar system, you can pick either an on-grid (also known as a grid-connected) solar system or an off-grid solar power system (solar with battery storage). Your choice will define your access to solar electricity, the equipment needed to store solar energy, the electricity billing and metering process, and what happens if the power grid fails.

With a home solar system not connected to the local utility grid, you depend only on sunlight for your energy needs. The system will also have a series of batteries to store solar power generated, so that it can be used overnight or on cloudy days when you don’t get enough sunlight for optimum generation.

On the other hand, with a home solar system tied to the grid, you have the back up of the utility company. The grid acts as a huge battery bank for end consumer. You can even sell the surplus solar energy back to the grid as per the net metering guidelines of the state and can always get lack of electricity from the grid in case your generation lags behind your consumption.

Location of the House

Before wondering about solar rooftop prices, it is important to know if your home is in a good geographical location for installing solar panels, especially if you live in densely populated regions of India. One pre-requisite for installing a solar system on your rooftop, is that the solar panels must get direct sunlight to produce ample electricity for your domestic needs.

You can ask any solar installation company in Delhi or anywhere in India to inspect your property’s orientation with respect to sun, roof angle, and any shading due to trees or neighboring houses to determine if your roof receives enough direct sunshine.

The solar installation companies determine all these things after a site visit to your premises, and share the proposal with an estimate of required solar capacity system and projected solar generation based on annual irradiation. The right installation will ensure that your solar panels can generate maximum electricity, thus giving you maximum savings in the electricity bill.

Among the numerous advantages of installing a solar energy system, solar for home is also a great way to offset electricity bills for the foreseeable future. With unstable conventional energy tariffs in India, a home producing its own electricity becomes more attractive to potential buyers when put up for sale. You can easily raise the valuation by the total economical benefit that solar system is going to provide you for the residents of the house for the lifetime of the solar system.

Installing solar panels adds significantly to your home’s resale value. For each kilowatt installed, the value can increase by lakhs. However, the rate may be higher or even lower depending on your property’s geographical location and your system’s age and output.

Life of Solar Panels and Output

The average lifespan of a solar system as per the market standard is 25 to 30 years. After this period, the system’s electricity production declines below what it initially produced. The energy generation capacity is determined by the location of your home and the size and quality of your system. A 1kWp solar system, for instance, can give an average of 1400 units per year.

Since solar panels don’t have any moving parts, they are not prone to physical damage and may continue to produce energy for many decades. Premium solar panels for homes are of sturdy build and rarely get damaged by debris, strong wind, or other external factors. Internal damage can only result from inclement weather and a poor racking setup, which is also less common.

However, if you are selling your home when the solar system is nearing or has crossed its high-efficiency age, such old solar systems might not add much value to your home.

It’s true that the initial residential solar panel installation cost is still high for homeowners. However, the high (or not so high) solar rooftop prices are offset by the system’s powerful as much as 90%* in Delhi and Gurugram, and also increase your home’s value.

Want to know the price of a rooftop solar system and the optimum size for your home?

HomeScape by Amplus Solar offers end-to-end, hassle-free solar solutions. We are among the top solar installation companies in Delhi and other states of India and have solarized more than 800+ residential homes so far. The unique designs of our transparent, dual-glass solar panels add aesthetic appeal to your roof while powering your home.

Reach out to our solar experts for a home assessment today.

Innovative Solutions Solar power for home solar power installation

7 Reasons Why Installing Solar Panels on Your Roof Is a Good Idea

17 January 2022

9 min read | By admin

Solar panel installation is a big commitment for homeowners. While most homeowners are aware of the benefits of switching to green energy, they often find themselves worrying about the cost of solar energy, the space required for it, its maintenance and what not.

However, they don’t realize that solar is an economic investment, and not just spending. The financial benefits you get from having a rooftop solar power plant are way higher than its cost.

Benefits that your home will get from solar panels are as follows

1. Rooftop Solar Panel Installation Increases the Value of Your Home

Rooftop solar plants for homes are typically made of silicon solar cells and premium-quality tempered glass. The durable build makes a rooftop solar plant last for at least 25 years. During this period, your system pays off through guaranteed savings on electricity bills. Also, in some cases, it becomes an additional source of income as you can earn electricity credits which can be redeemed from your electricity bills in the future thus giving you extra liquidity.

With these advantages, your home becomes a lot more attractive to potential buyers in the housing sector. As a result, you can claim a better price of your home at any given time if you have a rooftop solar plant in your premises.

2. Solar Panels bring Energy Independence

Tired of sudden power outages or paying inflated electricity bills? A rooftop solar power plant for home combined with the battery storage can create much-needed energy independence for you. No need to wait for electricity to power your cooling or heating units as you can use your electronics and appliances anytime you want with solar power. Such type of solar system with battery storage are called off-grid solar solutions.

3. Zero Cost of Rooftop Solar Panel Installation

It’s no secret that the upfront cost of rooftop solar in India can go up to a lakh for a 2kWp system. However, a rooftop solar power plant for homes is a zero-cost investment in the long run. This seemingly giant amount will be offset over a period of 5-7 years, while you continue to lower your electricity bill for 20 to 25 years or more.

Moreover, generous subsidy schemes are available for solar rooftop systems for homes in several states to reduce the upfront solar costs for homeowners. Also, given the high power generation capacity and efficiency of modern solar panels, you can expect your system to give you higher generation and even quicker savings.

4. Low-Cost Maintenance With Longevity

The routine upkeep of your rooftop solar PV system is very little. The design of the rooftop solar structure is such that there aren’t any moving components. Hence, routine cleaning is all you need to do to keep the structure in the best functional condition. Your solar battery may need a little more attention, as regular inspection is necessary to timely address potential preventive maintenance.

Even though your solar panels are exposed to elements of harsh climate, the rooftop solar system is designed to be highly resilient and durable. Most home solar installers will be able to provide 25 years of performance warranty on solar panels.

5. Reduce the Pressure of Paying High Electricity Bills

The biggest reason homeowners are switching to residential solar rooftop systems is the huge potential for cost savings. As grid-electricity is getting more expensive, solar power has become a more affordable alternative for the many reasons discussed earlier. An on-grid solar system allows you to earn an additional income or electricity credits under net metering guidelines by transferring the surplus energy generated back to your local grid.

6. Government Subsidy on Solar Panels

Since the government of India aims to increase its solar capacity to meet its solar goals, subsidy schemes or Central Financial Assistance (CFA) are being offered along with additional state subsidy in many states. For example, if you are in Punjab, you can enjoy a CFA of 40% on buying a rooftop system of up to 3kW capacity. Whereas in Delhi, you can avail of a 30% subsidy on the same capacity of the solar system.

7. Environmental Benefits

It goes without saying that transitioning to renewable sources of energy like solar is a step towards saving the environment and protecting natural habitats. Unlike conventional sources of energy, which produce toxic emissions and generate even higher carbon emissions, solar is a clean source of energy with lesser carbon emissions.

Having a rooftop solar power plant is a major advantage, and there is no doubt about it. With traditional electricity prices going up, a self-sufficient, solar-powered home can help you cut down on your utility bills without compromising on your lifestyle.

Let HomeScape by Amplus Solar help you make the switch to green energy with our customized, built-to-last residential solar rooftop system. Backed by a 25-years of performance warranty, our system will give you huge savings on electricity bill from day 1.

Our end-to-end solution ensures that having a solar system on your roof is hassle-free, rewarding, and convenient as possible. Whether you want to own a solar system without losing the roof space or desire a structure that adds to the beauty of your home or rooftop garden, we have a solar system to suit every home and lifestyle.

Contact our professional solar installers for a solar consultation today.