Residential PV

Challenges like frequent policy and regulatory changes, high capital costs, low awareness, non-uniformity in approval processes across states, restriction on net metering, and additional charges by DISCOMs need to be addressed for rooftop solar to take off in India.

Simarpreet Singh, director at EPC firm Hartek Group, speaks to pv magazine about the impact of the Covid pandemic on the rooftop solar sector, technology trends shaping the market, and the outlook for 2021.

Researchers in Finland have demonstrated the technical feasibility of an off-grid residential PV system combined with short-term battery storage and seasonal hydrogen storage. The proposed model is applicable only to northern climates, as higher levels of solar radiation in southern locations would mean a reduced need for seasonal storage. It was tested in an existing single-family house in Finland with a 21 kW rooftop array and a ground source 6 kW heat pump.

Available in four different products, the series features a conversion efficiency of 20-21.2%. Two of the panels are packaged in a sleek, all-black aesthetic.

January 4 is the last date for EPC contractors, manufacturers and system integrators to submit techno-commercial bids for grid-connected rooftop solar capacity that shall come up in residential premises and residential welfare associations/group housing society premises in the state.

A recent GOGLA report indicates an increasing trend towards hybrid power solutions that integrate DC solar with AC grid power, and appliances that integrate both AC and DC power. In particular, the sales of hybrid solar inverter UPS in India is growing at 25% annually, much faster than conventional inverters’ 10% annual market growth. 

U.K. researchers have developed a way to optimize urban rooftop use with solar PV and agriculture.

India added rooftop solar capacity of 399 MW in the second quarter (July-Sept) of FY 2020-21, compared to 188 MW installed in the corresponding period last year.

Bids are invited to install and commission various capacities (11-500 kWp) of grid-connected rooftop solar plants at individual households and residential buildings across the state. Bidding closes on November 25.

With the International Energy Agency publishing its latest five-year clean energy forecast today, pv magazine takes a look at the solar content of the 162-page document.