Quantification of potential benefits to punjab’s DS consumers from on-grid type solar systems

Abstract

In recent years, use of Solar Energy for Electricity production has been promoted by various companies, research institutes and governments as a clean and free source of Energy. As an outcome of the promotions by such entities, idea of solar energy production has reached from Industries and commercial consumers to Domestic consumers also. Government has schemes in terms of subsidies, low interest loans and tax rebates to promote installation of Solar Power plants. This paper shows a detailed analysis of the performance of a domestically installed Solar Power Plant that pertains to the state of Punjab (INDIA), keeping in view unit KWH energy rates as decided by Punjab state power corporation ltd. (PSPCL) which vary a little depending upon the agreements and policies of different state governments. In this paper quantification of the potential benefits to the end consumer has been done to analyze whether the consumer gains by installation of solar power plants in terms of monetary benefits, regularity of supply, independence from faults etc. or not.. Data for 2 years has been collected for a Domestic consumer, 1 year before installation of solar power plant and 1 year after installation, thus covering all seasons. Comparison has been done to analyze benefits in totality including initial cost, total production of Solar units, Space constraint, Independence from faults etc.