Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), Asar and Poovulagin Nanbargal organised a rooftop solar awareness workshop at Ayanavaram, Chennai. The event took place on Sunday, 31 August, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Around 30 participants from Ayanavaram and nearby areas attended the session, with most of them being independent home owners.
Mr.Subramani, Researcher, CAG, welcomed the participants and provided an overview of CAG and its various initiatives. He also outlined the workshop’s objectives and explained its overall purpose to the attendees.
Above: The session in progress
The CAG team gave a detailed overview of the benefits of rooftop solar and the installation process, helping participants gain a clearer understanding of rooftop solar PV systems. During the session, participants were also provided with IEC materials that covered system fundamentals, installation steps, costs, and available incentives. Ms. Aleena, Consultant at CAG, delivered an in-depth presentation on rooftop solar PV systems, focusing on:
- Different system types (on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid)
- Installation guidelines
- Area-specific considerations
- Financial requirements
- The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
Q&A Session
The interactive Q&A session that followed sparked lively engagement, with attendees seeking clarification on various aspects of rooftop solar implementation. Some participant questions are described below:
- A participant asked if a solar system would eliminate their electricity bill completely?
Explanation: Yes, solar power can potentially eliminate your electricity bill, but it depends on several factors. In Tamil Nadu, domestic consumers follow the Net Metering billing mechanism. By installing a solar PV system of the right capacity, you can generate enough electricity to meet your household's entire energy needs.
- During the day, solar panels power your home directly. Any excess energy generated is exported to the grid. At night, when your panels are not producing power, you can draw energy from the grid — and this is offset against the excess energy you exported earlier.
- If your system is correctly sized and your usage patterns align well, your net energy consumption can be zero. However, a fixed network (or wheeling) charge of approximately Rs.100 per kW (bimonthly) for solar PV systems still applies.
- Keep in mind, if your electricity consumption is very high or your solar system is undersized, you may still receive a bill for the additional grid power used.
- A participant asked how they can determine the right capacity for my home.
Explanation: Capacity of solar PV system to be installed can be determined based on the following factors:
- The average energy consumption of the household for the last two years
- Available shadow-free roof space
- Sanctioned load from the Discom
- A participant asked if the panel's efficiency will be affected by temperature and humidity
Yes, climatic conditions like temperature and humidity significantly affect the efficiency of solar panels and overall performance. High temperatures reduce efficiency while cooler temperatures improve performance. Most panels lose about 0.3% to 0.5% efficiency per °C above 25°C. Cloudy or rainy weather lowers output, though panels still generate some power from diffuse light.
Next Steps & Conclusion
The workshop was informative and engaging, offering valuable insights to prospective consumers. Some of the participants expressed interest in installing rooftop solar systems Ms. Aleena, Consultant, CAG concluded the session, and participants expressed their appreciation for the initiative.
The participants were asked to contact CAG in case of any doubts or queries. For further details, CAG has prepared an SOP for rooftop solar installations. You can access the English version here and the Tamil version here.