Despite the generous capital and interest subsidy offered by the central government, roof-top solar energy is not expanding in the country. Analyse (200 Words)
Refer - Business Line
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 3 years
KEY POINTS
· In India, in 2019-20, renewables, excluding large hydro, accounted for around 10 per cent of electricity generation (as opposed to installed capacity) and within this, solar accounted for 3.6 per cent, contributed mostly by utility scale solar PV such as solar parks, whereas the share of rooftop PV was negligible.
· In the case of gross metering, the discom pays the rooftop solar PV homeowner for the power injected into the grid at the PPA rate and charges the homeowner for the power drawn from the grid at rates applicable to all consumers in the category, offering little incentive to homeowners.
· Discoms have an issue with net-metering for valid reasons. Firstly, the homeowner generates power during off-peak hours when the sun shines, but consumes most of her power after sunset during peak hours when utility power tariff is steepest. During daylight hours, all the utility scale and other renewable power plants including big solar parks which generate power at no fuel cost, must be dispatched under the Centre’s must-run policy.
· Second, there are inherent T&D losses in any discom network and these are factored into the tariff determined by State Electricity Regulatory Commissions whereas the rooftop prosumer gets full credit for all the power fed into the grid to be adjusted against her consumption, without accounting for T&D losses.
· During peak hours, the meter could be calibrated (or a new meter installed) to measure the power supplied to the household which will be charged at peak-hour tariffs, at par with the rest of the consumers in the same category allowing for slab benefits applicable to other consumers.
· This will also incentivise homeowners to use their gadgets during daylight hours to the extent possible to minimise their power bills. The homeowner can then decide whether to buy power from the discom in the evenings or install a storage battery, based on the economics.
· Restrictions such as ceiling based on connected load, etc., can be done away with. The way forward need not be a binary of gross or net metering, but an equitable and fair modification to utilise the substantial potential offered by rooftop solar PV.
Answer writing practice 3 years
Sir/mam
kindly review my answer
thank you
IAS Parliament 3 years
Try to write only the relevant points and stick to the word limit. Keep Writing.
Venkat 3 years
Kindly review
IAS Parliament 3 years
Good attempt. Try to underline Key points. Keep Writing.
aswin 3 years
please review
IAS Parliament 3 years
Try to include data to support your arguments. Keep Writing.
Venkateshwaran R 3 years
Kindly provide feedback. Thank you
IAS Parliament 3 years
Venkateshwaran R 3 years
