Net Metering allows rooftop solar projects to feed excess electricity into grid and reducing the electricity bill proportionately. This is particularly useful for buildings with intermittent or seasonal loads like malls, schools, offices, warehouses etc.

1. Rooftop Solar Benefits: Net Metering
Rooftop Solar Benefits: Net Metering
Background
Solar Project produces most of its power between 8 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening.
However, it is not necessary that the electrical load also follow the same pattern. Although, the
solar project mostly generates electricity lower than the total consumption but there are times
when the solar power is not entirely used by the load.
At such times, in states where net metering policy is in place, the solar project can feed the
excess electricity to the grid, which will be deducted from the total bill for the grid electricity.
Further, in some states, in case the total electricity fed to the grid is more than the electricity
drawn, then the state pays for the solar electricity fed to the grid, although the rates have not
been finalized yet.
States
Net Metering at a conceptual level is already being discussed in most states. However, the
policy is already in action in the following states:
> Punjab > Delhi > Uttarakhand
> Tamil Nadu (only residential) > Andhra Pradesh > Karnataka
Impact
The Impact of net metering differs depending on the nature of the building usage. Some
examples, where this can be helpful, however are:
• Malls which have maximum consumption during evening hours
• Offices which are closed on the weekend
• Colleges having vacations where the load dips significantly
• Warehouses having low electrical loads but large roofs
Technical Requirements
Net Metering requires installation of special meters – either bidirectional meters or separate
meters for export and import of energy as are approved by the Local Electricity Discom.
Case Study
100 kW Solar PV Power Plant at VVIT, Andhra Pradesh
VVIT at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh specialized in Computer
and Electrical Engineering Education. 100 kW solar power
plant installed by Gensol and commissioned in 2013 would
be among the first projects on Net Metering, which is of
particular significance considering the reduced usage of
solar power during weekends and vacations.
Gensol Engineering Pvt Ltd. | Gensol Consultants Pvt Ltd 1