In grid connected rooftop or small SPV system, the DC power generated from SPV panel is converted to AC power using power conditioning unit and is fed to the grid either of 33 kV/11 kV three phase lines or of 440V/220V three/single phase line depending on the local technical and legal requirements.
Key benefits of Grid Connected Solar System:
Metering Arrangements:
Gross metering - systems are aimed at rooftop owners/third party investors who will like to sell energy to the DISCOM by using roofs owned by them or another party. It is also known as feed-in metering wherein, all the energy generated from the system is exported to the grid and is separately recorded through a different 'feed-in meter'. The developer exports the solar energy to the utility at a predetermined feed-in-tariff (FiT) approved by the regulator, and the third-party investors/RESCO developers enter into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the utility. Only grid-connected PV systems can be gross-metered.
Net metering - systems are primarily aimed at providing an opportunity to consumers to offset their electricity bills, wherein a single meter records both import of conventional energy from distribution grid and export of solar energy into distribution grid. Thus, net metering allows the final user to credit produced energy in the grid and is also promoted as a preferred option.
What is Net Metering?
In net metering, the owner is billed for the “net” energy that is used, which is the difference between total energy produced by the system and total energy consumed. Net metering accounts the difference between excess power exported back to the grid and total power consumed by the owner.
This net solar metering credit can then be used to offset the cost of electricity that the homeowner pulls from the grid when their home's electricity needs exceed what the solar power system is generating.
How Does Net Metering Work?
energy metering ensures that during the middle of the day — when more power is generated, and less is used — the extra electricity is sent to the grid, and you earn net metering credit from the utility for that energy. For example, if you produce 10 kWh of extra electricity, you will have 10 kWh worth of net metering credit which you can use to offset your usage later.
When you are at home at night, electricity usage is at its peak, but your solar panels aren't producing power in the dark. When this happens, you can use the credits you have built up over time to offset your energy use. With seasonality of sunlight, you can generate enough net solar metering credits during the summer months to offset your future electricity bills during winter months when there’s less daylight available.
How is net metering measured?
With net energy metering, you are billed for the "net" energy used. Net energy is the difference between the total energy produced by a solar power system, and the total energy consumed by the home. Your electricity meter keeps track of the excess power fed to the grid, and power that’s drawn from the grid when your home needs more electricity, and comparing these amounts gives you the net energy usage.
Compared to a regular, non-solar meter that only measures the energy you are pulling from the grid, the net meter for a net-metering-enabled solar home works in both directions. Most meters have digital screens now, so the net meter doesn’t actually “spin” backward, but there’s typically an arrow that points one direction when feeding extra electricity to the grid, and another direction when drawing electricity from the grid. Your utility company relies on this measurement to determine how much solar power net metering credit to give you. (Always ensure your net meter is functioning properly to make sure you get compensated fairly.)
Net energy metering ensures that during the middle of the day — when more power is generated, and less is used — the extra electricity is sent to the grid, and you earn net metering credit from the utility for that energy. For example, if you produce 10 kWh of extra electricity, you will have 10 kWh worth of net metering credit which you can use to offset your usage later.
When you are at home at night, electricity usage is at its peak, but your solar panels aren't producing power in the dark. When this happens, you can use the credits you have built up over time to offset your energy use. With seasonality of sunlight, you can generate enough net solar metering credits during the summer months to offset your future electricity bills during winter months when there’s less daylight available.
Does Net Metering Save Money?
Yes, net metering can save you money. When drawing power from the grid, you can use the credits you received when you fed extra power to the grid so that you don’t have to pay for that energy directly, helping to lower your utility bill.
Consider the winter months when electricity bills are high from heating costs and needing to have lights on for longer. If you generated excess power in the summer and sent it to the grid, you won't be worried when winter arrives, because you will have net metering credits built up, and that will unquestionably save you money.
What is the difference between net metering and gross metering?
Gross metering is different from net metering in that you don't consume the power generated by your solar power system directly. Instead, all of the electricity generated by your solar panels gets exported directly to the power grid, and then you pull the electricity you require back from the grid.
Gross metering requires an extra electricity meter (net meter) to measure the outflow of the electricity you are generating, while the regular meter records the electricity you are consuming. You are paid a pre-determined Feed-In Tariff (FIT) rate for the power sent to the grid from your solar power system, and this feed-in tariff rate helps offset the cost of power that you pull back from the grid.
In gross-metering, consumer needs to purchase total energy for consumption at retail tariff, which is generally higher than the feed-in-tariff (FIT); in net metering, since import of power is adjusted against export, consumer avails equivalent reduction in their electricity bill.
Benefits Of Net Metering
Net metering can help you save on your utility bill, speed up your solar payback period, let the grid act as your backup battery, and reduce pressure on the grid. Let's take a look at each of those net solar metering benefits in more detail:
1. Save On Your Utility Bill
If you are always worried about utility bills, net metering can help reduce them. Solar panels can help power your home, but if you aren’t getting net metering credit, and you don’t have a way to store excess electricity, then your solar can only offset the power being used while the panels are generating electricity.
For example, if you needed $200 worth of electricity from the utility, but you had $150 worth of energy credits from feeding excess electricity back into the grid during long, sunny days, then you're only paying $50 for that extra energy that you need, and your total utility bill is going to be much lower.
2. Speed Up Your Payback Period
Your solar payback period is the amount of time it takes for the savings from solar to offset the cost of installing that solar initially. Once you’ve reached the end of your payback period, you’ve paid off your initial investment, and any electricity generated after that point is essentially “free”.
Because it increases your overall savings, net metering helps speed up your payback period, and full retail net metering helps speed up your payback period even more. As a result, if you live in a state that offers full retail net metering, you will have a much shorter payback period than those that don't. This is simply because those locations allow solar owners to save even more on their electricity bills, enabling them to recoup their investment costs faster.
For example, a solar power system in New Jersey typically has a payback period of 5 to 6 years, thanks in large part to strong net metering policies. On the other hand, a similar solar power system in South Dakota could take up to 12 years to pay off because that state has less valuable forms of net metering in place.
Your solar payback period will depend on several factors in addition to net metering options, such as:
3. The Grid Acts Like A Backup Battery
With net metering, your utility company is essentially allowing you to use the grid as a "virtual battery" to "store" excess power for later use. Think of it like a battery that you don't see, that comes to your aid when you need more power.
Without net metering, the only way to get value from any extra electricity your solar panels produce is to add a solar battery to store your own electricity for use at a later time, which requires a larger upfront investment.
4. Reduces Pressure On The Grid
Residential and commercial solar power is a huge benefit to utilities because it reduces the stress on the electricity grid. Instead of drawing power from the grid, solar homeowners can produce their own electricity, which means the utility doesn’t have to push as much electricity through their distribution network, since there are fewer people using power directly from the grid.
Eligibility: Net Metering ( As per prevailing regulation of WBERC)
- Consumer of WBSEDCL.
- Installed Capacity-Not less than 5 KW
- Connection type-3 Ph
Type of Consumer:
1. Hospitals / Health centers run by Govt. / Private/ Private charitable organization.
2. Schools/ Academic institutions run by Govt./ Private/ Govt. aided
3. Govt. offices/ organizations.
4. Local bodies like Municipalities/ Panchayats
5. Housing Complex.
6. Commercial/industrial organizations and any institutions registered under any statute
Input by Applicant (Form-S1)
Popped-up from system
Name of CCC
Application & Acknowledgement –Related Forms: S1, S1A & S2
Application review & Inspection –Related Forms: S3, S4, S5 & S6
Installation, Testing, Commissioning & Billing –Related Forms: S7, S8, S9 & S10
Alif Solar
Module No 205, WEBEL IT PARK, WEBEL tower 2, BN-9 Sector V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, 700091 WB. INDIA
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