Solar Feasibility for Urban Households- Space Limitations for Solar Installation

Abstract

With the trend of falling costs associated with solar energy production, solar adoption is currently picking momentum in India at the state and federal level. Solar power is being adopted by universities, factories and other large entities readily, but is not prevalent for small scale consumption or for land owners of smaller plots in urban areas. These landowners represent a large chunk of development and their adoption can bring solar energy to the masses, galvanizing forces of agglomeration of economics. Surface area for installation of solar power is essential for solar adoption at any meaningful scale, especially for residential use. Installation of a solar array below the requirement leads to supplementation by the electrical grid and dealing with two different power sources and thus unpopular. The paper calculates this requirement for the average household and a minimum energy demand threshold is identified, below which solar adoption will not make sense to the urban household. Further, the area required for solar installation to meet this demand threshold is calculated. The paper finds this area requirement to be out of reach for most households, which has been identified as an impediment to solar adoption by urban households.