Solar homes are an ‘in’ thing at the moment. It is also one of the primary sources of energy for several households around the country. And if the installation can be done properly, it can actually last for years without any further maintenance. One great thing about installing solar panels is that, it can bring down the electricity bills considerably.
So, in case you are thinking about installing solar panel in your home or office in India, here are a few things that you need to know. Check out these 7 facts and then you can decide whether or not a solar installation is a right thing for you and your household/office.
Check the Installation Space
For solar panel installation, around 100 to 120 square feet of unshaded land is needed to set up the solar panels of 1 KW. A solar installation system consists of solar panels to absorb the sun’s heat and converts solar into electrical energy, an inverter to convert Dc power into AC and batteries where the electricity would be stored. Solar panels should ideally face south so that they get sunlight throughout the day.
Check your Regular Electricity Usage
Before going for the solar installation and getting in touch with the best solar installation companies in India, make note of your monthly spending on electricity bills and also note the power needed by individual appliances that are used regularly in your household. There are energy calculator apps online which can help you to calculate the power requirement of your house. The typical need in an urban household is that of around 1-5 kW system.
Choose the Right Solar Panel
Depending on your availability of space and system design, you need to choose the solar panel that is totally apt for your home. Standard solar panels come in 250 Wp (Watt peak) configuration or 300Wp panels for larger home installations. Some medium to large installations uses multiple 100Wp or 250 Wp panels. So, you need to choose wisely and after doing better research.
Choose the Right Solar Installer
There are a lot of Indian, Chinese and European manufacturers providing solar system installation. So, you need to choose a company that will provide you an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for your solar panel system. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt. of India, has a list of empanelled agencies that provide installation and maintenance services for solar panels. The list can be found on the MNRE website. Make sure that you buy equipment from a genuine supplier as the life of a solar panel system is around 25 years and genuine equipment will mean that the system doesn’t need a lot of maintenance and servicing for years to come.
Choose a Company that is a One-stop Shop for All Parts
Choose a solar system installer which has its manufacturing setup in-house. This means that if in case there is a fault in any part of the system it can be replaced quickly which is possible only when parts are manufactured in-house. If different parts such as batteries, solar panels or net meters are manufactured by different manufacturers, more often than not, there might be issues of availability and speedy replacements.
Find Out the Total Cost for Going Solar
Solar power for the home can no doubt bring down the cost of electricity bills and give a return on investment in the long run but it does require some initial investment for setup and functioning. Depending on your requirement, the solar panel price (with complete setup) varies from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 6,00,000.
Get a Good Battery
Do not go for a manufacturer that gives you the cheapest solar battery price. The battery is a crucial component of the solar power installation system. Make sure that you buy a battery from a renowned brand and keep it in a place that is not cramped and hot as heat reduces the battery life. You may also look for MNRE approved batteries to enjoy longer warranty periods and better performance.
Try Getting a Government Subsidy
The MNRE is keen on promoting the usage of solar energy in India and for that purpose has started the Jawahar Lal Nehru Mission under which a subsidy of 30% is provided on solar panel installation. The subsidy is provided when you choose solar panel manufacturers from the approved list of MNRE manufacturers. Try to get a subsidy from government for your solar installation at home.
Also Read: Embrace Solar Power-makes Ethical Sense and Economic Wisdom
All said and done, choosing solar can be very good for your home but before you do that, you need to know a few things to make the installation process absolutely worriless. And if you can follow all the above mentioned points, the procedure of solar installation will get easier for you.