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Rooftop Solar Advisor

The Complete Guide to Putting up a Rooftop Solar Power Plant
on Commercial and Industrial Establishments

December 2015

Sample Report

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Contents
Top Questions Answered in Detail
1. Should I go for rooftop solar now, or should I wait for some time?
2. Is it feasible for my setup to have a rooftop solar power plant?
3. How does the cost/benefit analysis look?
4. What are the actual costs for rooftop solar power plants?
5. What are the various incentives available from the state and central government?
6. Do the rooftop solar power plants really work as well as promised?
7. How do I ensure that I get a high quality, long lasting rooftop solar system?

1.

Reasons for Industrial/Commercial sector and Domestics Going for Rooftops

1.1 Unreliable supply of grid power
1.2 Cost of Power
1.2.1 Industrial/Energy Consumers
1.2.2 Residential Consumers
1.2.3 Grid Tariffs in Indian Cities for Industrial, Commercial, and Residential consumers
1.2.4Very high cost of diesel power
1.3 Issues to be considered
1.3.1 For industrial/commercial consumers
1.3.2 For residential consumers
1.4 Net-Metering
1.5 Reasons for Not Going Solar
1.6 Rooftop Solar The CEOs Perspective
1.6.1 Spectrum of Benefits
1.6.2 How Quickly Can You Get Solar for your Rooftop?
1.6.3 Other Benefits of Rooftop Solar
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways

2.

Simple Steps for You to Have Your Own Solar Rooftop

2.1 Lay down the purpose for which the solar plant is desired
2.2 Estimate the amount of energy required from the solar plant
2.3 Identify the amount of shade-free rooftop area available/required for installation
2.3.1 Factors affecting roof area required by rooftop solar PV plants
2.3.2 Other Considerations
2.4 Speak to vendors and obtain quotations for your requirement
2.5 Evaluate vendor quotations based on price, warranties, and vendor credentials before finalising the
vendor
2.5.1 Price
2.5.2 Warranties
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways

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3.

Cost Economics of Solar Rooftop

3.1Component cost of rooftop PV systems

3.2Incentives/Subsidies
3.2.1 Accelerated Depreciation (AD)
3.2.2 MNRE Subsidy
3.2.3 Final cost of Rooftop PV system factoring in AD and Subsidies
3.4 Variations in pricing
3.5 Calculating Returns
3.5.1 The Challenge
3.5.2 The Method
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways

4.

Components of a rooftop solar system

4.1 Basics of Rooftop Solar PV
4.2 Types of Rooftop Solar PV Plants
4.2.1 Grid-Tied Plant
4.2.2 Off-Grid Plant
4.2.3 Grid-Interactive/Hybrid Plant
4.2 Components of a rooftop solar PV plant
4.2.1 PV modules (panels)
4.2.2 Inverters
4.2.3 Mounting structures
4.2.4 Batteries
4.2.5 Charge Controllers
4.3 Maintenance of rooftop solar PV systems
4.4 How long does it take to install a rooftop PV system?
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways

5.

Best Regions for Solar Rooftops

5.1 Factors affecting rooftop solar plant output
5.1.1 Location
5.1.2 Orientation
5.1.3 Ambient Temperature
5.2 Approximation of PV plant output
5.2.1 PV plant outputs in different states for different roof areas
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways

6.

Innovations in Rooftop Solar

6.1 Technology innovations
6.1.1 Non-penetrating mounting structures
6.1.2 Elevated mounting structures
6.1.3 East-West layout
6.1.4 Diesel substitution
6.1.5 Critical load support
6.2 Commercial innovations
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6.2.1 Build Own Operate (Transfer) BOO(T)

Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways

7.

Warranties and Certifications

7.1 Typical Warranties and Certifications
7.1.1 Solar Panels
7.1.2 Inverters
7.1.3 Mounting structures
7.1.4 Batteries
7.1.5 Charge Controller/MPPT units
7.1.6 Cables
7.1.7 Junction Boxes/Enclosures for Inverters/Charge Controllers/Luminaries
7.2 Expected lifetime of rooftop PV plant components
7.2.1 Examples of component failure
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways

8.

Prominent Solar Rooftops

Beas (Amritsar, Punjab)
Murugan Textiles (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)
SRG Apparels (Tirupur, Tamil Nadu)
KG Fabriks (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)
Alpine Knits (Tirupur, Tamil Nadu)
L&T (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
Gandhi Hospital (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)
Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bangalore, Karnataka)
IIT Kanpur (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh)
PSG Institutions (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)
Gayathri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering (Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)
Prasads IMAX (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)
Ramakrishna Mission Home (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
Sri Vishnu Educational Society (West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh)
St Josephs College (Bangalore, Karnataka)
Thermax (Pune, Maharashtra)
J Mitra Associates (New Delhi)
Scope International (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
TTK Prestige (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)
Engineers India Ltd (Gurgaon, Haryana)
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
Parliament House (New Delhi)
Mahindra World City (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
Sunderlal Jain Hospital (New Delhi)
Stella Maris College (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
Indian Institute of Science and Education Research (Mohali, Punjab)
Other Notable Rooftop Plants

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Appendix
Complete List of Benefits of Rooftop Solar for Commercial & Industry Sectors
Accelerated Depreciation
Locking in Energy Costs
Reduction in Diesel Consumption
Relaxation of Peak Load Constraints
Green Branding
REC (renewable energy certificates)
Green Building Certifications
Evaluating Vendors for Rooftop Solar PV Installation
Vendor Evaluation Parameters
Glossary
BOO Model (Build Own Operate Model)
Capacity Utilization Factor
Central Inverters
Concentrating Photovoltaics
Crystalline Silicon/c-Si
DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance)
Feed-in-Tariff
Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI)
Grid-tied Solar Power System
Grid Parity
kWh
Kilo Watt
LCOE (Levelised Cost of Energy)
Module
Module Degradation
Net Metering
Off-grid Solar
Photovoltaics
Pyranometer
PV array
Reflection Losses in Solar Cells
Silicon Wafer
Shading of solar panels
String Inverters
Standard Test Conditions (STC)
Temperature Coefficient of Solar Panels
Thin Film Solar Cell
Tracker
Watt Peak (Wp)
Solar Apex Bodies & Organisations in India and their Roles
MNRE
CWET/NIWE
SECI
SESI
NSEFI
SERIIUS
CSRI
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Solar for Residences

Feasibility of Residential Rooftop Solar
Types of Plants
Rooftop Solar in Apartment Complexes
What You Should Know Before You Talk To a Vendor

Solar Mango Services for the Solar Power Sector

MW Scale Solar Power Plants
Rooftop Solar Power Plants
EAIs Cleantech Consulting

List of Tables
Table 1: Sample Tariffs for different cities in India (Rs./kWh)
Table 2: Time to Commission Plant - By Project Phase
Table 3: Calculating Electricity Consumption
Table 4: Energy Consumption for Limited Load
Table 5: Calculating Load
Table 6: Panel Efficiency and Space Occupied
Table 7: Component Cost of a 1 kW PV Plant
Table 8: Tax Savings from Accelerated Depreciation
Table 9: Savings from Capital Subsidy (15% & 30%)
Table 10: Cost of 1 kW PV Plant after AD and Subsidies
Table 11: Comparison of Costs Solar, Grid, Diesel
Table 12: Degradation in Panel Generation
Table 13: Usable Power Generated by a 100 kW Solar Plant
Table 14: Inverter Replacement Cost
Table 15: Annual Maintenance Contract Cost
Table 16: Temperature Coefficient and Panel Capacity
Table 17: CUF by State
Table 18: Generation by State for different Available Roof Area
Table 19: Warranties & Certifications for Solar Plant Components

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Introduction

Rooftop solar power is being increasingly embraced by commercial, industrial, and residential consumers as a
significant contributor to their energy mix because it combines

On-site generation of power

Utilising unused rooftop space
Reasonable cost

Generating power on-site frees the consumer from being at the mercy of grid failures and even load shedding as
the solar plant is not dependent on grid infrastructure to deliver its power to the load. In this sense a solar plant is
similar to a diesel generator, but without the associated noise and emissions.
Rooftop space is often left unutilised in many establishments; installing a solar plant on the roof is a great way to
derive additional value from your building.
Depending on the tariff regime, solar power may be cheaper than even grid power for some consumers.; it is much
cheaper than diesel power for all consumers, and offers the added advantage of fixing the cost of power for the
next 25 years a rooftop solar plant that delivers power at a levelised cost of Rs. 6.5/kWh today will deliver power
at the very same cost 25 years from now.
In addition, solar plants have no moving parts and are therefore very reliable, requiring minimal maintenance
expenditure or downtime.
While the advantages of rooftop solar power are undeniable, some constraints should be considered as well, such
as solar power being generated only during daytime, or lack of sufficient rooftop space limiting the size of solar
plant that can be installed.
The following chapters of this guide explore both the advantages and constraints of rooftop solar power, and
provide the critical inputs that you would require in understanding how rooftop solar can make a difference to your
organisation.

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Using the India Rooftop Solar

Advisor
The India Rooftop Solar is not a generic market or industry report. Rather, it is a guide designed to help those
keen on industrial and commercial rooftop solar installations in their specific questions, and help them take the
next steps.
As a rooftop solar prospect, you might have a number of questions and concerns. But it is important for you to
ensure you get the answers to the most important questions. To make sure that you do not miss out on answers
to these, we have done the following:
We have listed the top questions that have been in the minds of many stakeholders, and provided directions for
the chapters or sections where relevant answers/inputs to these are available.
Of course, there are many other questions too that are answered in the report. But make sure you review the
following.

1. Should I go for rooftop solar now, or should I wait for some time?
2. Is it feasible for my setup to have a rooftop solar power plant?
3. How does the cost/benefit analysis look?
4. What are the actual costs for rooftop solar power plants?
5. What are the various incentives available from the state and central government?
6. Do the rooftop solar power plants really work as well as promised?
7. How do I ensure that I get a high quality, long lasting rooftop solar system?

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Sample content provided for select chapters from the report

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Chapter 2
Simple Steps to Have Your Own Solar Rooftop

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Simple Steps for You to Have Your Own Solar Rooftop

When planning your solar rooftop system, follow these steps to ensure your plant satisfies your needs and
provides reliable performance
1. Lay down the purpose for which the solar plant is desired
2. Estimate the amount of energy required from the solar plant
3. Identify the amount of shade-free rooftop area available for installation and estimate the capacity of plant
that can be installed
4. Speak to vendors and obtain quotations for your requirement
5. Evaluate vendor quotations based on price, warranties, and vendor credentials before finalising the vendor

2.1 Lay down the purpose for which the solar plant is desired
This is the first and most important step as it forms the basis on which the other decisions can be made. Some of
the alternatives before you include (Explained in the main report)
a.
b.
c.
d.

Feeding into the grid

Diesel substitution
Off-grid solution
Night-time usage

2.2 Estimate the amount of energy required from the solar plant
Load requirement explanation and calculation given
Total energy requirement/day (Wh) = (Formula given)

Table 1: Calculating Electricity Consumption

Appliance
Number Wattage Working Hours Energy (kWh/day)
Lights
Fans
TV
Computer
Refrigerator
Charging points
Total
Table 2: Energy Consumption for Limited Load
Appliance
Number Wattage Working Hours Energy (Kwh/day)
Lights
Fans
Computer
Charging points
Total
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System size
System size, safety margin discussed here
System size = Formula given

Panel size
Panel sizing explained here
No. of panels = Formula given

Inverter size
Inverter sizing given here
Required Inverter size = Formula given

Total wattage of appliances is calculated in this table:

Table 3: Calculating Load
Appliance
Number Wattage Total Wattage
Lights
Fans
Computer
Charging points
Total
Calculations for case given here

2.3 Identify the amount of shade-free rooftop area available/required for installation
2.3.1 Factors affecting roof area required by rooftop solar PV plants
The extent of roof area required by a solar PV plant (and therefore the amount of energy that can be generated)
is dependent on two factors

Shade-free roof area

Panel efficiency

Shade-free roof area

Explanation given here
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Output
Panel damage

Panel efficiency
Shade-free area required at different plant capacities and panel efficiencies
Explanation given
Table 4: Panel Efficiency and Space Occupied
Plant capacity
Panel efficiency
12.0%
12.5%
13.0%
13.5%
14.0%
14.5%
15.0%
15.5%
16.0%

1 kW
2 kW
5 kW
10 kW
Rooftop space required (Sq.ft.)

Area required for solar plants given here

2.3.2 Other Considerations

Weight of the rooftop PV plant
Mountings that can withstand wind pressure
Diesel Integration
When integrating a solar plant with a diesel generator, two factors have to be considered.

Reverse current Explanation given

DG fuel efficiency Explanation given

2.4 Speak to vendors and obtain quotations for your requirement

2.5 Evaluate vendor quotations based on price, warranties, and vendor credentials before
finalising the vendor

Criteria for vendor selection and steps included here.

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2.5.1 Price
2.5.2 Warranties
PV Panels
Other systems

Frequently Asked Questions answered here

1. How much electricity does a rooftop solar PV plant generate?
2. How much space does a rooftop require?
3. Will higher efficiency panels generate more power?
3. How should the required size of the solar plant be determined?

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Chapter 3
Cost Economics of Solar Rooftop

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The cost of a rooftop solar PV system depends on the function it serves (to feed power into the grid, to support
the load during a power failure, etc.) and incentives/subsidies available. It should be noted that all solar PV
systems function by matching the voltage from some other source. Therefore the system has to be integrated
with the grid, a battery backup, or a diesel generator.

Types of rooftop solar PV systems

Rooftop solar PV systems are of 3 types(explained in the main report):
1. Grid-tied
2. Grid-interactive/Hybrid
3. Off-grid

1.1 Component cost of rooftop PV systems

Cost per kW and cost breakup is explained in detail in the main report
Table 5: Component Cost of a 1 kW PV Plant

Component
PV modules (Crystalline)

Amount
(Rs.)

% of
total
cost

Inverters
Balance of System (cables, etc.)
Installation
Total
1.2 Incentives/Subsidies
Several incentives are available for rooftop solar PV plants through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
3.2.1 Accelerated Depreciation (AD)
Explanation of AD and Net cost after factoring in AD is explained in the main report
Table 6: Tax Savings from Accelerated Depreciation
Item
Cost of a 100 kW rooftop solar plant
Accelerated depreciation
Corporate tax rate
Tax saved through depreciation
Net cost of rooftop solar plant

Rs.

3.2.2 MNRE Subsidy

Current state and central subsidies, priority sectors and impact of subsidy in the final price are explained in detail
in the main report.

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Table 7: Savings from Capital Subsidy (15% & 30%)

Item

Subsidy @
30% (Rs.)

Subsidy @
15% (Rs.)

Actual cost of a 1 kW rooftop solar plant

Benchmark cost
Subsidy on actual cost
Net cost after subsidy benefit

3.2.3 Final cost of Rooftop PV system factoring in AD and Subsidies

The final cost to setup the PV plant, after factoring in Accelerated Depreciation and Subsidy benefit will be:
Table 8: Cost of 1 kW PV Plant after AD and Subsidies
Item

Subsidy @ Subsidy @
30% (Rs.)
15% (Rs.)

Cost of a 1 kW rooftop solar plant

Subsidy
Net cost after subsidy
Accelerated depreciation @ 80%
Tax rate
Tax saved through depreciation
Net cost after both AD and Subsidy

3.4 Variations in pricing

Prices of solar PV systems offered by various vendors can differ significantly. There can be several reasons for the
variations in price, such as(explained in the main report)

Overstatement of capacity
Compromised installations
Brands
Certifications
Warranties

3.5 Calculating Returns

3.5.1 The Challenge
Difficulties in arriving at the final price are discussed here

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Table 9: Comparison of Costs Solar, Grid, Diesel

Parameter
Capital investment
Operating cost
Maintenance
Replacement cost
Expected future cost increase
Incentives

Source of Power
Grid

Solar

Diesel

3.5.2 The Method

Revenues

Solar Generation

Panel Capacity
Example problem discussed in detail in the main report

Expected Average Daily Generation

Content given in report

Panel Degradation
Table 10: Degradation in Panel Generation
Particulars
Generation (kWh)

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Other Losses
Table 11: Usable Power Generated by a 100 kW Solar Plant
Particulars
Generation (kWh)
(-) Other losses @
10%
Usable power from
Solar (kWh)

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

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Year 4

Year 5

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Equivalent cost of grid power for the solar generation

Costs
Initial Investment
Content given in report

Subsidy
Content given in report

Inverter Replacement
Content given inreport

Table 12: Inverter Replacement Cost

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Inverter Replacement
Cost at beginning* of year

Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

Content given in main report

Table 13: Annual Maintenance Contract Cost

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Maintenance

Tax Savings
Content given inreport

Calculation and Analysis

Content given inreport

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does a rooftop solar PV plant cost?
2. Can I get the Subsidy?
3. How should returns from solar be calculated?

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Chapter 6
Innovations in Rooftop Solar

Several innovations in solar rooftop, both at the technical and commercial level, have made the solutions viable
for a greater variety of users and increased its adoption.
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The following Technological and Commercial innovations are given in detail in the main report

6.1 Technology innovations

6.1.1 Non-penetrating mounting structures
The typical solar installation on a concrete roof requires mounting structures that penetrate the roof, raising
concerns with waterproofing and other structural issues in some buildings. The use of non-penetrating mountings
has allowed solar plants to be mounted on such buildings. This is widely used in India.
6.1.2 Elevated mounting structures
Mounting structures that elevate the solar panels above the roof allow the roof to be also used for other
purposes, may create a slightly cooler top floor, and increase panel cooling due to greater exposure to the wind.
This has been frequently used in India.
6.1.3 East-West layout
Solar plants in the northern hemisphere are typically mounted facing south in the direction of the Sun. However,
locations within the tropical zone do not always have the sun towards the south. L&T has experimented with
East-West layout for panels in such locations and claims increased energy output. There are only a few such
installations in India.
6.1.4 Diesel substitution
Diesel for power generation is a problem unique to India and several other developing countries. The need to
maximise diesel savings from solar with has given rise to several solutions, such as special inverters that can
control multiple diesel generators, and software solutions that can manage multiple solar inverters and diesel
generators based on load. This solution is being increasingly adopted in India.
6.1.5 Critical load support
By isolating critical loads through a dedicated electrical feeder, a solar power plant with battery backup can
ensure that the critical load is always supported, and no disruption of production is experienced despite
unscheduled load shedding. This solution is being increasingly adopted in India.
6.1.6 BIPV
Building Integrated Photovoltaics can be integrated such that it blends with the surrounding materials and is
aesthetically pleasing. Normal solar installations are noticeable and many homeowners are turned off by the fact
that it ruins the buildings aesthetics. BIPVs can be in the form of Solar Shingles or coloured panels or directly
integrated Solar panels (they function as the roof itself without other mounting structures).
This technology has been commercialised, but is hampered by poor efficiency and high cost.

6.1.7 Concentrating Solar PV

Mirrors and Lenses can be utilized to increase the power output of solar panels installed. This technology has
been commercialised but the weight of the installation makes it unsuitable for most rooftop applications.
6.1.8 Powerwall
The Powerwall, developed by Tesla Energy, is a lithium-ion battery pack that automates storage and discharge of
solar power to take advantage of time-of-day pricing for electricity consumers. Powerwalls will be delivered to
customers later this year, which is when the effectiveness of the solution can be judged.
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6.2 Commercial innovations

6.2.1 Build Own Operate (Transfer) BOO(T)

This innovative business model allows energy consumers to have a solar plant on their rooftop, but instead of
paying for the entire plant upfront, they only pay for the energy generated by the plant on a per-unit basis by
signing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
The vendor who provides the plant Builds, Owns, and Operates the plant for the consumer. A variation on the
model allows the plant to be Transferred to the consumer after a period of time. As the ownership of the plant
remains with the vendor, the energy consumer cannot claim depreciation on the plant.
BOO(T) vendors typically require the consumer to maintain a credit rating or bank guarantee to avail the
facility, and usually do not offer the solution for residential rooftops.

Detailed answers to the following questions are also provided:

1. Which technical innovations are already widely implemented in India?
2. If I wait will I benefit from a breakthrough that significantly reduces cost or increases generation?
3. Is BOO(T) widely available in India?

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Chapter 7
Warranties and Certifications

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Warranties and Certifications

7.1 Typical Warranties and Certifications

A rooftop PV system is made up several components each of which have their own performance parameters. We
provide a list of the prominent warranties and certifications for each component in the table below.
Table 14: Warranties & Certifications for Solar Plant Components
Warranties

Certifications

7.1.1 Solar Panels

Modules are typically warranted against manufacturing
defects for a period of 5 years. In addition, their power
output is also warranted

0-10 years for 90% of the rated output power

10-25 years for 80% of the rated output power

This means that a 200 Wp panel will generate as much

power as a 180 Wp panel in 10 years time (90%) and 160
Wp panel in 25 years time (80%).
Note: It is normal for solar panels to lose some of their
generating power over time (about 0.5% a year). This is
known as degradation.

The crystalline PV module (which are predominantly used

in rooftops over thin-film modules) should be certified to
comply with

IEC 61215/IS 14286 Design qualification and

type approval

IEC 61730 Safety

IEC 61701/IS 61701 Salt mist corrosion testing

(for panels installed in coastal areas or in
maritime applications)

Panels should also be supplied with the MNRE mandated

RFID tag that allows the panels to identified and tracked
to the manufacturer for verifying performance.

7.1.2 Inverters
Inverters are typically warranted for 1 year, with optional
extension up to 5 years.

IEC 61683/IS 61683 Efficiency

IEC 60068-2 (1, 2, 14, 30) Environmental

testing (Cold, Dry heat, Change of temperature,
Damp heat cyclic)

7.1.3 Mounting structures

Mounting structures are typically warranted for 1 year,
with optional extension up to 5 years.

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7.1.4 Batteries
Batteries are typically warranted for 1 year, with optional
extension up to 5 years.

While battery certifications would depend on the

application for which they are required, consumers can
perform simple checks to verify if the battery is genuine

Capacity-weight Capacity should correspond

with the weight e.g., a 100 Ah battery should
weigh about 32 Kgs.

Batch number This should be embossed (and

not provided through a sticker) on the body

IEC 60068-2 (1,2,14,30) Environmental testing

(Cold, Dry heat, Change of temperature, Damp
heat cyclic)

IEC 60227/IS 694 General

measurement of PVC cables

IEC 60502/IS 1554 (Part I & II) Working voltage

up to and including 1100 V and UV resistance
for outdoor installation of PVC cables

7.1.5 Charge Controller/MPPT units

Charge controllers and MPPT units are typically warranted
for 1 year, with optional extension up to 5 years.

7.1.6 Cables
Cables are typically warranted for 1 year, with optional
extension up to 5 years.

test

and

7.1.7 Junction Boxes/Enclosures for Inverters/Charge Controllers/Luminaries

Junction boxes and enclosures are typically warranted for
1 year, with optional extension up to 5 years.

IP 54 (of IEC 529) Outdoor use

IP 21 (of IEC 529) Indoor use

The certification for each component can be found on the datasheet for the component.

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7.2 Expected lifetime of rooftop PV plant components

Rooftop PV plants have no moving parts and therefore dont suffer from wear and tear, making them extremely
reliable. The expected lifetime for the major components in your rooftop solar PV system is given below

PV modules These should last 25 years, or even longer

Inverter This is the only major component in the rooftop plant that will require replacement during the
lifetime of the plant. Typical life is 5-10 years

Mounting structures These should last the full 25 years of the plants lifetime

Batteries Battery banks can last as long as 10 years with careful maintenance, but 3-5 years is a more
typical lifespan

7.2.1 Examples of component failure

While solar PV plants have no moving parts, the components of a plant can fail and require replacement due to
several factors. A few examples are given here

Modules Leakage of current into the frame of the module, resulting in 20-50% reduction in power
output

Inverters Capacitor failure due to ageing of electrolytic materials

Junction boxes Improper fixing on panel causes the box to fall off the panel, creating a fire hazard

Failures not covered by warranty

Not all component failures are covered by warranties. These are typically due to poor design of the rooftop solar
plant. Examples include

Modules Shadows falling on the panels causes them to burn out

Connectors Overheating caused by poor fastening

Wiring Squirrel or bird damage

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will the rooftop solar plants need expensive replacements?
The inverter is the only major component in the solar plant that will need to be replaced during the 25-year
lifetime of the plant. Typical inverter lifetime is about 10 years. Solar inverter prices have been steadily declining
over the years, which we expect to continue.
If batteries are used, they will need to be replaced every few years typical life is 1,000 cycles which is a bit less
than 3 years if discharged daily.

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2. What are the typical warranties on the components of a solar PV plant?

Solar panels from Tier 1 manufacturers have 5-year manufacturers warranty with 25-year output warranty.
Other components typically have a 1-year warranty that can be extended to 5 years.
3. What are the typical causes of failure in solar PV plants in India?
Poor design/workmanship by inexperienced vendors
Improper earthing, especially for the inverter
Low cost/poor quality components

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Chapter 8
Prominent Solar Rooftops

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Prominent Solar Rooftops

Thanks to favourable policies, both from Central and Stage governments, India has already seen many solar
rooftop projects being implemented.
Details about the following prominent installations are provided in the report.

Beas (Amritsar, Punjab) -7.52 MW

MuruganTextiles (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) - 2MW
SRG Apparels (Tirupur, Tamil Nadu) 1.1 MW
KG Fabriks (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) - 1.05 MW
Alpine Knits (Tirupur, Tamil Nadu) -1 MW
L&T (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) - 1MW
Gandhi Hospital (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh) - 500kW
Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bangalore, Karnataka) - 400kW

Other rooftop solar power plants also detailed in the report include:

IIT Kanpur (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh)

PSG Institutions (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)

GayathriVidyaParishad College of Engineering (Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)

Prasads IMAX (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)

Ramakrishna Mission Home (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

Sri Vishnu Educational Society (West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh)

St Josephs College (Bangalore, Karnataka)

Thermax (Pune, Maharashtra)

J Mitra Associates (New Delhi)

Scope International (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

TTK Prestige (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)

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Engineers India Ltd (Gurgaon, Haryana)

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

Parliament House (New Delhi)

Mahindra World City (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

Sunderlal Jain Hospital (New Delhi)

Stella Maris College (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

Indian Institute of Science and Education Research (Mohali, Punjab)

Other Notable Rooftop Plants

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Appendix
Complete List of Benefits of Rooftop Solar for Commercial & Industry Sectors
The following benefits are explained in the main report

Accelerated Depreciation

Locking in Energy Costs

Reduction in Diesel Consumption

Relaxation of Peak Load Constraints

Green Branding

REC (renewable energy certificates)

Green Building Certifications

Evaluating Vendors for Rooftop Solar PV Installation

This section will assist you in selecting the vendor for the solar power system installation. As the rooftop solar
power system has a total lifetime of 25 years, it is important that you choose your vendor after exercising
considerable care and evaluation.

Vendor Evaluation Parameters

Evaluation of the Vendor
Content provided here

Evaluation of the Solar Power System

While purchasing the modules and balance of systems for having a solar PV power plant on your rooftop, please
ensure you check two things with the vendor

Warranties
Certifications

Evaluation Criteria of the following are given in detail in the main report

Warranties

PV Module

Inverter

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Other Balance of Systems (PV mounting structure, Junction Box, cables, Earthing kit, Battery, etc.)

Certifications

PV Modules

Inverters

Cables

Junction boxes and other enclosures

Battery Guidelines
Content provided here

Switches & Connectors

Content provided here

Glossary
Key terms that energy consumers should know when considering rooftop solar are provided here

BOO Model (Build Own Operate Model)

Capacity Utilization Factor

Central Inverters

Concentrating Photovoltaics

Crystalline Silicon/c-Si

DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance)

Feed-in-Tariff

Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI)

Grid-tied Solar Power System

Grid Parity

kWh

Kilo Watt

LCOE (Levelised Cost of Energy)

Module

Module Degradation

Net Metering

Off-grid Solar

Photovoltaics

Pyranometer

PV array

Reflection Losses in Solar Cells

Silicon Wafer

Shading of solar panels

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String Inverters

Standard Test Conditions (STC)

Temperature Coefficient of Solar Panels

Thin Film Solar Cell

Tracker

Watt Peak (Wp)

Solar Apex Bodies & Organisations in India and their Roles

Details of the following organisations, their roles, functions and websites are given in the main report

MNRE

CWET/NIWE

SECI

SESI

NSEFI

SERIIUS

CSRI

Solar for Residences

Details on Rooftop Solar for residences, types of systems and vendor details given here

What You Should Know Before You Talk To a Vendor

Answers to the following questions are provided in the main report
1. Can an asbestos roof take rooftop solar power plants?
2. What should be the load bearing capacity of my roof for having a solar power plant?
3. What % of my companys power needs can be satisfied by rooftop solar?
4. Are RECs applicable for rooftop solar power plants?
5. What types of batteries are used in rooftop solar power plants?
6. Where can I get radiation data for different regions in India?
7. What is the risk of solar panel shading?
8. How heavy will be the mounting structures be?
9. Should I go for the conventional ownership model or the BOO(T) model?
10. Can I install solar panels on an East-West roof?
11. Can I install solar panels on a North Light roof?
12. Why are solar plants limited to 30% of the capacity of the DG set?
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13. How much of diesel can I save by using rooftop solar?

14. How do I know if I am eligible for net-metering?
15. Do I need to make special provisions for the inverter?
16. Does the solar plant require a lightning arrestor?
17. I suffer from frequent power outages, but have critical equipment that must run. Can a solar PV plant help
me with this?
18. I need to pump water. Is a rooftop solar plant the best choice for me?
19. Which are the components that might need replacement in the 25-year period?
20. Are there special bank loans available for commercial/industrial rooftop solar installations?
21. Can I use thin-film panels for rooftops?
22. Are there any issues with very large scale rooftop solar projects (over 5 MW)?
23. Does rooftop solar really require little maintenance?
24. Can I use the entire roof area for solar panels?
25. Why does a grid tied rooftop solar power plant NOT generate power during grid failure?
26. What is the difference between central and string inverters? Which of the two should I use?
27. What happens to the power generated on holidays?
28. Is it better to use Indian components or imported components for rooftop solar power plants?
29. I require a lot of hot water. Is a solar PV plant on my rooftop the right choice?
30. Can a solar plant support my air-conditioners?
31. Can a solar plant support heavy industrial machinery?

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Solar Mango Services for the Solar Power Sector

Solar Mango is Indias leading research and consulting firm dedicated to solar energy, with a special focus on
rooftop solar. It is a part of EAI, which is a leading firm in the Indian renewable energy sector.
Solar Mango provides the following services and solutions for the solar power and renewables.

MW Scale Solar Power Plants

Solar Mango provides end-to-end project management consulting, covering policy, financial, operational, and
technical project management for solar power plants. We can thus be with you from beginning until end of the
project, acting on your behalf as your business strategy advisor, financing facilitator, techno-commercial
supervisor, as well as owners engineer during the implementation of the project. Write to us at consult@eai.in
with your requirements.

Rooftop Solar Power Plants

For large industrial and commercial rooftop solar power projects (above 500 kW), Solar Mango provides turnkey
project management consultancy services. For smaller rooftop solar projects, Solar Mango can assist companies
in finding the right vendors for implementing the project. More about Solar Mango from www.solarmango.com

EAIs Cleantech Consulting

Solar Mangos parent, EAI, provides strategic consulting and market analysis for a range of renewable energy
sectors solar (PV and thermal), biomass, wind and emerging cleantech domains. More about our renewable
energy consulting services from http://consult.eai.in

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Interested in Buying this Report?

Rooftop Solar Advisor Report costs Rs.2000 Only/- (US $35)

and can be purchased through credit card, bank transfer or cheque.
Website:http://www.solarmango.com/in/reports/rooftop-solar-advisor
No. of Pages: 102
Edition: December 2015

To purchase the Rooftop Solar Advisor Report, you can

Do so from http://secure.clixoo.com/purchase/solarmango/rooftop_solar_advisor/report.html, or
Send an email to, muthukrishnan@eai.in with the subject: Purchase Rooftop Solar Advisor Report
with your contact details and we will get in touch with you immediately
Or contact Muthukrishnan for further information 09952910083
Visit the official website for more information -http://www.solarmango.com/

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