How about doing a rough cost analysis, with existing information first? Assume usage patterns, DG set usuage etc, and come with rough numbers, to convince ourself, whether it makes sense, and to understand the target numbers (interest rates to sustain the sector etc), when we talk about the options mentioned above, to stakeholders

I read abt the loan for Solar power generation from Gramin bank.. Not sure if the scheme was for all over india.. Again, not sure if it is continuing.. The window might be over!

And about the adoption of DC based services, I am not sure about the extend to which it can help.. It remains a fact the the household consumption of power is mostly in the evenings, and Solar power is available during the day. So, some storage cannot be avoided! 

We can design the system to use the solar power produced during the day to be used during the day, so as to minimize the storage. But, then, it would be a replacement for Grid power than for DG sets!

Again, storage to some limited quantity would make sense, since the DG sets operate at better efficiency, when they are on low load, and as the load increases, the convertion factor from diesel to electricity goes down..Rough estimates I have heard is one thrid the electric power produced, when the load goes up from 30% to 75%. 

Also, unlike a household, an apartment pays for most of its electric power at the highest slab.

What I would like is to compute the tradeoffs between diesel cost, to solar power to grid power, under few typical scenarios.

I will work on writing up my experiences so far.  

It seems that Silkboard has covered most ideas I have been thinking about. The low interest loans is one of my favourites.  Am wondering if it is possible to offer other benefits to buildings that run on solar power - such as increased FAR. This might prompt builders  in including it in the package!). They can pass on part of the cost to the owners since they benefit from lower maintenance costs ( rough estimate : one third of the maintanance cost in apartments seem to go towards bescom + diesel.) and recover part costs from the additional apartment units built. 

Additional push to the solar market in this way, might help in bringing down the cost of the system!

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This exercise sounds good.  I know BESCOM, KREDL and KPTCL are doing something about solar power.  It would be nice if we can get some idea of what they are already doing.  If I am correct, there is an application filed with KERC on net metering.  Has BESCOM done a study on this?  What have they concluded?  That for one, would be something we should be very interested in knowing about.  Could Manu sir point us to any data?

One thing is clear.  With our current energy consumption in a modern home, there is no way solar power installed on the roof can run all that (IDS - I have your excel file and will eventually get to it ... just a bit tied up now).  So unless one is willing to drastically downsize grid power is required.

The trick is to come up with solutions that are win-win for all Consumers, BESCOM and the state.  Not sure if I have a clear vision for that yet.  However, discussions will lead us there :-)

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Yes, from what we all know, seems like Solar is here to supplement. But community pooled local DC grid, or some way for people to join in their roof space to make a larger pool of panels - such ideas might just make the off grid thing a possibility.

Regrdless, its in BESCOM's interest. They could see this as a source of revenue

• Why not sell solutions yourself, make some money by sellig solar systems to your existing consumer base. I would buy from BESCOM, why not.
• BESCOM is a power supplier, who says they can't supply solar power? I am imagining BESCOM renting roof space all around to build a city wide solar grid
• KREDL - financing options to help take the upfront cost would certainly help
• KREDL again - everyone needs to know MORE and MORE about Solar (or Wind) options.
• KREDL or BESCOM - subsidy on top of MNRE one to push for Solar at remote locations
• Scheme to promote usage of low power devices so tat Solar can cover larger percentage of domestic needs. DC lighting and fans, lower power better quality pump sets, Power rting scheme - so that any device whose initial startup surge is less than say 750W gets marked as "Solar Ready"

Have to read around a bit more.

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Hey, can we shorthand you to just AS, saves a few key strokes :)

Sorry - missed noting your idea of giving more FAR to developers if they build for/with roof top solar. Just like they have done with rain water harvesting, some push from BBMP/BDA side, like

• more FAR if you go rooftop solar
• 5% discount on property tax if you have 1Kw or better solar at home
• 10% discount on property tax if your community (e.g. apartment complext) has Solar supplementing grid.

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Another through, wild one. What if we get BESCOM to do a mass-procurement of 1Kw Solar systems, and get good bulk discounts.

• We set ourselve a goal of say 20000 sign-ups.
• We can canvas with our own apartment communities or neighbours, sign them up
• BESCOM starts mass procurement as soon as we hit the 20K number or better.

But we will need some material (brochures, FAQs etc) to help each other canvas around and sign up people.

And even at very aggressive 20 sign-ups per person, we will need 1000 volunteers for this "mass Solar @ Bangalore" campaign.

The 1000 volunteers will of course get deeply discounted Solar unit for their use (say 30% more on top of MNRE subsidy), that will make it a good deal for them :)

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Just searched around and found out that a community group in LA has organized "Group puchase drive" for Solar equipment, and the drives were successful in getting discounts on top of subsidies etc.

Snippet from this source website

Back for a second round, the Open Neighborhoods organization in Los Angeles has organized another group purchase of residential and commercial solar PV, bringing the cost of solar incredibly close to the cost of grid power. ... With prices are around $4.40 per Watt installed for solar, Open Neighborhoods gets residential solar for $2.00 cheaper than the average prices reported by the Solar Energy Industries Association for the second quarter of 2011.  That equates to a 6 cents per kilowatt-hour savings on solar over 25 years.

Could we do such a drive here in Bangalore? Praja alone can't. We are still a group of part-timers. But if BESCOM can lead, I think we can organize volunteers for a drive - to what? sign up 20K buyers for a group purchase of panels and conditioning units?

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MCC looks up to illuminate palace on all days of week

MYSORE: Mysore City Corporation is looking to tap solar power in a big way. If it has its way, the Mysore Palace will be illuminated using solar power, while other tourist spots will switch over to eco-friendly
energy sources. 
The civic body, which is the nodal agency for the implementation of ambitious JnNURM projects, has approached the Centre with a proposal to utilise solar energy to illuminate the palace. 

It also plans to set up a solar power grid at a site where houses for economically poor are under construction and plans to sell additional energy to power utilities. MCC commissioner K S Raykar on Tuesday said the Centre has pledged financial assistance to the city, which is marked as Solar City. According to him, assistance to the tune of Rs 16,012 crore will flow into the city over the next five years, and the people and agencies, which switch to use solar energy, will get help. 

MCC is starting with its properties by switching over to solar energy at its headquarters and nine zonal offices. "They will be replicated at some of the vintage spots which are now dependent on hydro or thermal power," Raykar, an expert in urban management, said at a workshop on renewable energy hosted by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL). 

Ahead of implementing projects under the Solar City, KREDL has opened its Mysore office at Devaraja Market and spreading awareness about its mission. Mayor Rajeshwari Puttaswamy inaugurated the meet. Raykar said the proposal to generate solar power to illuminate the palace is with the Union government and in case it is approved, the palace can be illuminated on all days of the week. Now, the palace is illuminated on weekends, during 10-days Dasara festivities, and on national holidays. The mandate of Solar City project is to adapt to eco-friendly energy source. 

Referring to Gujarat where 640 MW of solar power is generated, he said: "In all, 77 houses funded by the Centre are under construction in the city, which will have mechanism to generate solar power. The energy produced will be pooled in a grid, and the additional power is planned to be sold and the money will be passed on to the owner of the property," he stated. 

As part of strategy for optimal use of renewable energy sources, MCC is planning to set up mini-biogas plants at some 2,000 houses wherein biodegradable waste will be used for energy generation. "We are also supplying biodegradable waste generated daily at the main markets to Pinjarapole Society and using the cow dung to generate power," Raykar added.

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Gujrat has a 660MW Solar Power Generation Plant. Thinking if Metro of a city like BMRCL could operate with such a plant. 

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We seem to be seeing some flights of fancy here.  So let me reiterate... solar is an intermittent resource.  Output varies with cloudiness.  Goes to zero when the sun sets.  Thinking that BMRCL can run on solar power is a flight of fancy because reliability and availability is very difficult.  In fact, you will have to have huge spinning reserves of coal, gas and hydro waiting to take up the slack the isntant solar goes down.

On the plus side, there are work arounds and solutions. Germany recorded 20 GW of solar power sometime last week. As a reference, Bangalore metro areas peak power demand is about 2GW. BTW, GW is Giga Watts = 1000 Mega Watts.

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I think most people who are reading this post understand that. And If they don't, its not their fault. Thats exactly the task here - spread awareness on what Solar can or can't do. Otherwise, people turn away disappointed (oh, I anyway have to have other means, can't go 100% Solar at reasonable costs for my home).

Need 3-4 guys to join in for a first meeting with KREDL / BESCOM on the subject. The meeting would be to

• Know what they are doing today to promote Solar
• Share our thoughts
• May be, if meetings go well, plan an Event - say a "Solar Consumer Mela", to bring together vendors (what is available, demos, prices), and KREDL/BESCOM (what subsidies are there, financing help), and potential consumers.

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I had posted about a BESCOM task force meeting here. Basically, manivannan wants a solar task force to map out the next steps with composition of 50% BESCOM and 50% interested citizens. He has assigned the responsibility to the GM DSM.  The next task force meeting should happen soon where we can go and interact with BESCOM.

As far as KREDL goes, they had the responsibility to frame some rules on Grid Interconnectivity in the state.  Anybody can do that, but people are playing passing the parcel.

So basically, yes, let us push for it.  BESCOM door is already open, at least the MD has opened the door and we can knock harder on it. KREDL or KPTCL would be the other people to push.

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I m from U.P. and I m very much interested to install a rooftop solar system but i dont have any idea about the govt policies of U.P. and what subsidy can I can get there?

Any body knows about any vendor operating in U.P. , delhi area so that I can contact? please give contact details.

sanjay

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Some news on the rooftop solar installation. 

Install a solar panel on your rooftop to generate energy and sell it to the distribution company through the grid for money.

To encourage green energy, the Centre is planning a programme under which it will provide incentives, either financial or through a subsidy, to home owners installing a rooftop solar panel for own energy consumption, and who will sell the extra power to the grid during daytime

For details, follow the link:

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/285442/set-up-rooftop-solar-panels.html

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GUJRATH HAS ALREADY SET AN EXAMPLE IN iNDIA FOR SOLAR ENERGY LETS START WITH THIS AS AN ALTERNATIVE LET OUR kANATAKA CITY ROADS START WITH SOLAR LIGHTS, GOVERNMENT OFFICES WHERE THE ROOF TOP PANEL CAN BE USED TO GENRATE POWER SINCE ITS ONLY FOR DAY TIME USE........... 

EVEN A INTRESTED APARTMENT ORGANISATIONS CAN BE APPROACHED TO THESE KIND OF PROJECTS...... LETS START SMALL & THINK BIG IN THE PROCESS STEP BY STEP APPROACH CAN BE MADE.......

 THIS MIGHT BE STRANGE IDEA..... BUT I THINK WE CAN WORK ON IT  ITS FOR MYSORE PALACE Y NOT LITIT UP THROUGH SOLAR POWE & 5 OR 11 WATTS CFL OR LED LIGHTS WHICH WILL CONSUME LESS POWER.....

THE NORMAL BULB SHOULD BE BANNED ON GROUNDS OF GLOBAL WARMING N CFL & TUBE LIGHTS SHOULD B MADE COMPULSORY......

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try indium solar cells instead oldish  silicon cells

try magnetic semi conductor system for storage 

this device is  more simple and economical 

The Indian Science Institute has the know -  how!!

why govt. is further hesitating is a matter of patriotism

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