Subsidy, savings to brighten solar power

CHENNAI: With the electricity tariff revised upwardly, installing rooftop solar plants will help domestic consumers reduce power consumption from the grid and their bills. To help consumers to install rooftop solar plants, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) is all set to come out with a list of empanelled vendors who would install rooftop panels at their homes, availing the central subsidy of up to 40 per cent per kilowatt.

Sources in TEDA said the list of empanelled vendors would be announced through their website within two to three weeks. “We have short-listed vendors through a tendering process. Once the list of empanel vendors was released, the consumers will be able to choose the vendors of their choice to install the rooftop solar panels,” sources added.

TEDA sources said the cost of a kilowatt capacity grid-connected rooftop solar plant would cost Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000. “The cost has gone up by 15 to 20 per cent in the last few years due to various factors,” the official added.

Sourced added that a kilowatt capacity plant can generate five units a day. “For a bi-monthly period, the plant would generate 300 units. The domestic consumer could pay only the difference between the generated solar units and the power consumed from the grid. Considering the increased tariff, the savings will be more and capital costs could be earned back in four years period,” sources noted.

Under the programme, projects up to three kW will receive a 40 per cent subsidy in terms of benchmark cost which is approximately Rs 40,000 per kW. The projects between 3 kW and 10 kW will receive a 40 per cent subsidy for the first 3 kW and 20 per cent for the remainder. No subsidy beyond 10 kW capacity will be provided. Group housing societies and residential welfare associations for common facilities up to 500 kW will receive a 20 per cent subsidy under the project.