Effective Adaptation of Clean Technologies – Solar Roof Top Photo Voltaic (SRTPV) Systems
Government of India had proposed to deployment of 40,000 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects by the year 2021-22 under the National Solar Mission. Detailed review of various policy and guidelines developed for two major schemes such as off-grid and on-grid connected systems revealed that utility companies offered different types of cost effective tariff to facilitate quick start-up, implementation and encourage participation from stakeholders. The study deals with linkage of two major contributions such as Demand Side Management (DSM) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through energy conservation measures and renewable energy integration in Government Institutions for the India’s prosperity to grow among Global Leaders in sustainable development. Energy bills are a major expenditure in public schools and colleges of India. The energy consumption trend in educational institutions and vast roof-top availability had impelled them to install grid-connected solar roof top photovoltaic systems (SRTPV) with net-metering scheme to manage their energy demands and avail benefits of net metering from the Electricity Supply Company (ESCOM). Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as part of its CSR initiative has taken up the project of installing rooftop solar panels (various capacities: 5kWp, 10kWp and 20 kWp) in 10 government educational institutions in Bangalore with net metering scheme. Mainly project has helped in developing sustainable energy system in the educational institutions focussing on issues of energy conservation and bring about behavioural changes among the students and staff on efficient use of energy. Based on the initial assessment of The Energy and Resource Institute, the project has yielded significant cost savings as anticipated, with larger system (>10kWp) has helped in minimizing the power consumption from the grid and subsequent reduction of the electricity bills. Whereas the smaller systems have generated revenue from BESCOM for the electricity exported with providing benefits to the society at large. The study tries to demonstrated gainful utilization of the unutilized area on rooftop of educational institutions and also encourages for effective adaption of SRTPV systems in other institutions and exporting the excess generated energy to grid.