Rooftop Revolution: Unleashing
Delhis Solar Potential
About
Rooftop Revolution - Unleashing Delhis Solar Potential
What?
The report is part of Greenpeaces campaign Switch on the Sun. The
campaign emphasizes the effectiveness of solar as an energy solution to
Delhis power needs. The report provides arguments, analysis and data to the
Delhi government, its distribution companies (DISCOMS) and the people of
Delhi to show why solar makes sense for the city.
Why?
Within the last decade, Delhis electricity demand rose by an average 6% every
year. From 20 billion units in 2002, the demand in all likelihood will reach over
33 billion units by 2017, a 65% growth. Given Indias growing power deficit, the
rising cost of power and Delhis rapidly growing power demand, it will be
difficult
to maintain the current level of supply stability in the years to come.
Further, for more than 70% of its power, the city relies on other states, which
places Delhis power supply in a vulnerable position.
Delhis current solar RPO is a mere 0.35% by 2017, much lower than in other
states.
A supposed lack of available space for solar PV in the urbanized and
congested city is considered to be a barrier. However, this holds true only if
large, ground mounted installations are considered.
This report shows that the potential for rooftop-based solar PV systems in
Delhi is significant and achievable.
Source: BTI market analysis, based on data from various state tariff orders
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Our approach
Delhi can reach 2 GW by 2020
2013
2020
DELHI
2GW
Parity
driven
(no
government
incen1ves)
Geographic
perspective
How much suitable
rooftop space is
available in Delhi?
Viability perspective
When will solar
make sense for
Delhis power
consumers?
(Without government
subsidies)
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Grid perspective
How much solar PV
can Delhis grid
accommodate?
(Without significant
investments)
Geographic perspective
With 1,6% of its space, Delhi could have over 2,5 GW of
solar installations
National
Capital
Territory
1.6%
of Delhis land
17%
of Delhis power
demand in 2020
Source: BTI market analysis, based on data from various state tariff orders
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Geographic perspective
Delhis residential buildings have the highest solar
potential with over 1.2 GW
Potential for rooftop solar power generation for different land area types
4.5
k
m2
2
4.5
km
14.9
km 2
0.03
k 2
m
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Viability perspective
Government buildings have already reached parity
residential consumer will come only in 2018
Delhi rooftop solar market size and viability (MW)
Solar for government
consumers is already
viable in 2013, if projects
are bundled into
individual project sizes
of 2 MW. This provides
scale to the installer
who would save on
engineering,
procurement and
logistics.
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Viability perspective
PV costs vary significantly with system size
Solar costs in 2013 for different system sizes in India
Over 50% cost
reduction per kWp
installed through
scale from 1-4
kWp to 500+ kWp
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Grid perspective
The grid should be able to absorb 20% of solar
power
Grid handling capacity vs expected solar growth
A per the US Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission , a
traditional grid can
accommodate up to 15% of the
peak load from distributed solar
PV without being destabilized,
while managing load
fluctuations easily
In some countries/cases PV
penetration has exceeded
15% without destabilizing
the grid. E.g. In Germany
renewable power has made
up more than 50% of overall
power on its grid
The report assumes that
with better forecasting and
standardized connectivity
Delhis grid can
accommodate 20% of PV
penetration
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Roadmap
Parity-driven roadmap to reach 2 GW by 2020
Phase 1
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Immediate parity in 2013 for bundled
government projects
All industrial and commercial
consumers reach parity
Government and industrial type 2
exhaust potential
Phase 2
Sharp ramp up in residential
capacity due to parity
Commercial type 1 and 2 and
industrial type 1 exhaust
potential by 2018
Stakeholders
Solar can be a win-win-win for all stakeholders
Save on electricity costs
Hedge against increasing grid prices
Additional income from power generation or
rooftop leasing
Green power and/or CSR
Supply security through localized generation
Consumers
With strained fossil fuel supplies , the need of
curtailing carbon emissions and rising power
demand, solar could be a business opportunity
Better load management
Grid stabilization
DISCOMS
Government
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Energy security
Low and stable power costs
Creating job opportunities
Green leadership
Innovation and new technology push
Instead of funding solar PV, the government should
facilitate it
Recommendations
Government projects
Aggregate the buildings and
tender them out to RESCOs
Own pilots as test-case and a
demonstration
Predictable,
realis8c,
long-term
policy
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Support solar technical
courses on PV installations in
educational institutions
Encourage local solar
installation/ entrepreneurs
through preferential loans
Grid
challenges
Analyze technical
Support gas-fired power
generation for balancing
Provide clear and simple
guidelines, standardized
permitting and connectivity
procedures
Support forecasting and enable
utilities to manage transition
Skills
3
4
Communication
Delhi Rooftop
Solar Map for
viability check
Demonstration projects on
transport facilities to make
idea real
Solar feasibility workshops for
commercial and industrial
customers
Financing
Provide strong payment
guarantees for government
projects
Set up a risk guarantee fund
for banks to lend more
readily
Support banks in developing
financial solutions (e.g., EMIs
for solar home systems)
International case
studies
Installed capacity
(2013)
Initiatives
Delhi can be a global leader and can also learn
from other cities
New York
San Francisco
Berlin
Beijing
14 MW
23 MW
98 MW
15 MW
Renewable Portfolio
Standard
New York PV
incentive program
New York solar map
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Renewable
Portfolio Standard
California Solar
Initiative (CSI)
incentive program
California solar
map
Mayors solar
Founder circle
GoSolar SF
subsidy program
Nationwide
feed-in tariff
Solar Atlas
Berlin
Beijing
sunshine
schools
program
supported by
the World bank
Golden
sunlight
demonstration
projects
Reading on
For more information, please download the report
The report Rooftop Revolution is available in two versions:
Full report (95 pages) with the following chapters:
1 Executive Summary
2 Introduction
3 Solar resource availability of Delhi
4 Delhis geographic potential for solar rooftop installations
5 Delhis existing solar policies and incentives
6 Integration of solar PVchapters)
with the grid
7 The viability of rooftop solar PV
8 Business models for rooftop solar
9 Why rooftop solar works for stakeholders
10 Delhi solar roadmap: reaching 2 GW by 2020
11 Government policy recommendations
Short version (15 page summary)
The report can be downloaded on: www.bridgetoindia.com/our-reports
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We are happy to support you
in all further queries
Contact
Jasmeet.khurana@bridgetoindia.com
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