Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), in collaboration with Poovulagin Nanbargal organized a Rooftop Solar PV awareness workshop on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Padaippu hall, Kodambakkam. The event, held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, saw the participation of 20 parents from all over Chennai.
Workshop Overview
The session featured researchers and experts from CAG who shared valuable insights on rooftop solar PV systems. Participants received IEC material covering key topics such as system fundamentals, installation process, investment, and available incentives, which they found highly useful.
To understand the audience's requirements, participants introduced themselves, mentioning their locality, type of residence (villa, apartment, or individual house), and their primary concerns. Almost all of the attendees live in independent houses and were mainly seeking ways to reduce their high electricity bills through solar solutions.
Mr.Vetriselvan, Poovulagin Nanbargal, explaining about climate change and sustainable practices
Mr. Vetriselvan initiated the session, focusing on climate change and sustainable living. He emphasised the importance of adopting eco-friendly practices in daily life and discussed how individual actions can collectively contribute to environmental conservation. The session aimed to raise awareness among parents about the impacts of climate change and rooftop solar.
Mr.Kaarmuhil introduced CAG’s work and provided an in-depth explanation of rooftop solar PV systems, covering:
- Rooftop Solar PV system types ( on-grid, off-grid, hybrid) and its components.
- Area requirements and capacity determination
- Initial Investment and available subsidies
- Cost benefits and payback period
- Key guidelines and checklists for installation
Mr.Kaarmuhil, consultant at CAG explaining about the rooftop solar PV systems to the participants
Participant Queries
The workshop included a Question & Answers (Q&A) session where participants raised key questions, many of which were addressed. During the session, participants inquired about various aspects of solar panel installation, including safety concerns, vendor accessibility, specific questions related to their individual homes, as well as economic and technical considerations. In response, the researchers provided comprehensive explanations addressing technical, economic, and safety aspects, leading to an engaging and informative discussion with the attendees.
List of few questions asked by the participants during the meeting:
1.Mr. X enquired about the bidirectional meter. The CAG team clarified that a bidirectional meter is mandatory for rooftop solar installations. The bidirectional meter measures both energy import from the grid and excess energy export to the grid from the solar PV system. If a household has a unidirectional meter, it must be replaced. TNPDCL currently installs bidirectional meters by default in all new homes. This helps consumers avoid the additional cost of purchasing a new meter when applying for solar connectivity.
2. Mr.Y enquired whether the solar PV system can completely eliminate the electricity bill. The CAG team highlighted how solar power can significantly reduce or even eliminate household electricity bills based on system size and usage. In on-grid systems, solar panels power the home during the day, with excess energy sent to the grid and drawn back at night. Properly sized systems can result in net-zero consumption, though a Rs. 100/kW network charge is still applied every two months.In off-grid systems, all generated electricity is stored in batteries and used independently from the grid, potentially eliminating bills entirely.In hybrid systems, electricity is stored in batteries and used as needed. Though connected to the grid, power is rarely drawn from it, as the solar setup is designed to meet household needs. The grid serves as a backup in case of low generation or battery depletion.
3.Mr. Z asked whether rooftop solar can power all electronic appliances like fridge, AC, washing machine, and UPS. The CAG team explained that rooftop solar energy works just like regular grid power,and if properly designed and installed,a rooftop solar PV system can power all electrical and electronic appliances without any issues.
Next Steps & Conclusion
Mr.Kaarmuhil concluded the session, with participants expressing appreciation for the initiative. The participants were asked to contact CAG in case of any doubts or queries related to rooftop solar. For further details, CAG has prepared an SOP for rooftop solar installations. You can access the English version here and the Tamil version here.