Community solar : Answer to woes of power and pollution menace in Indian Cities.

Solar technology was originally developed to power satellites circling in the space orbit but soon due to rising carbon emissions, resulting in global warming and health hazards accompanied by power crisis around the world, scientists and engineers started research and development at a large scale that made solar power available for domestic and industrial use at commercial scale. But despite all scientific advancement there are roadblocks which has made it very difficult to be adopted by households. Does that means that this article is all about conceding to what cannot be done?

The answer is loud and clear and it's a big "NO". Solar power can still be harnessed and used in every possible way and application and it can only be done with the participation of each one of us in a well thought, planned and researched method of "Community Solar". One its model -mega watt solutions is already being adopted in India, but today we will get know about a more inclusive and revolutionary model and we bet it's magical how a source of energy which is free of cost, abundantly available and is perpetual, can power our home, office, schools, Hospitals, Community centres and anything you can think off.  So let's know what is community solar, how it works, what are its advantages, Is it practical for you?

As the solar energy market rapidly expands, more and more people are exploring the possibility of going solar, and the surprising part is that this phenomenon is hegemonies both in rural and urban areas. While it's not possible for everyone to install panels on their roofs, due to unsuitable roof space, rented living space or living in a large condo building, alternative business models like community solar and shared solar are gaining popularity and increasing possibilities to access clean solar energy. 

In Figure 1:( community group Purchasing)- You can see various families living in a community, purchase solar in bulk and uses and shares each other's space in order to get the best orientation and energy output.

In Figure 1:( Offsite shared Solar)- In this approach a suitable site away from the living community is used after consultation with experts, the site can either be purchased or leased. Usually there is government subsidies on purchase or lease of lands if it's being used for domestic purposes by a community. An array of solar panel is installed at this site and the power generated is used by the community which contributed in its establishment, The excess power can even be sold back to the grid and standard rates through net metering.

In Figure 1: ( multi unit building) - multiple people living in a building with just one terrace, like in apartments can invest in contribution and reap the benefits as a family.

In Figure 1: ( community Driven Financial model) - It is similar to offsite shared solar except for, in this case you take external investors and donations instead of investing from your often coffers, this model can be used by families short on liquid funds.

Community solar business models increase deployment of solar technology in communities, making it possible for people to invest in solar together. Shared solar falls under the umbrella of community solar, allowing multiple participants benefit directly from the energy produced by one solar array. Shared solar participants typically benefit by owning or leasing a portion of a system, or by purchasing kilowatt-hour blocks of renewable energy generation.

This might not sound magical to you as you see it in isolation but the kind of impact this model can have with proper government and public partnership is immense and we need to think of this kind of adoption, especially after the Level of air pollution seen in Delhi and other metros in recent times. The following picture will broaden your imagination and justify our point as even the buildings can be made of materials generating power through solar technology and although its expensive right now, price can be brought down significantly by mass adoption.

BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

By aggregating customer demand, shared solar programs and organizations like can reduce the financial and technical barriers to going solar. Instead of acting alone to purchase panels and hiring professionals to complete individual site assessments, shared solar programs divide those costs among all of the participants. This also makes it easier for participants to buy in at a level that works best for their budgets. Sitting flexibility is also beneficial to participants. Since shared solar arrays can be located on or off site thanks to virtual net metering, it allows for strategic placement on sites such as commercial rooftops, marshlands, and municipal land, which can optimize grid operations and aid local economic development.

The red tapes created by paperwork and government scrutiny makes it a challenge  but with proper marketing messages and help of agencies like ours you just have to show the motive, while we work tirelessly to make your dream of clean energy a reality by handling paperwork, assessment, presenting proposals, installation and maintenance. 

Written by Suresh Kumar

About the Author : Suresh Kumar is blogger by hobby and Managing Director at Erigeron Energy Private Limited by profession. He has a deep interest in exploring renewable energy opportunities and a perfect solutions for the same.