Performance Analysis of 81.6 kWp Roof-top Solar PV Installed on Canopy Structure at WRLDC, Mumbai

Government of India has set the target of 175GW of Renewable Energy (RE) Capacity by Dec 2022 [1]. This will have impact on generation from fossil fuel in India and reduce the carbon footprint. To achieve this target, Rooftop solar also have to play a major role in contributing RE capacity in the range of 40GW. At present contribution of thermal power is in the range of 75-80% of total All India installed capacity. As an initiative to contribute to the GOI RE target, Western Regional Load Despatch Centre (WRLDC) has installed rooftop photovoltaic solar capacity of S1.6KWp on top of the office building to reduce the net load and for contributing in reduction of the carbon emission. This paper presents the experience of81.6 kWp rooftop grid connected PV solar plant under Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) or Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model at WRLDC. The paper also gives a detailed analysis of the potential and cost-effectiveness of this rooftop solar plant in meeting the demand of WRLDC, total solar generation, consumption at site and generation pattern recorded for the past three years. This paper emphasizes on variability & intermittency of solar generation over last three years, load variation at the site, impact on net load, total yearly savings in terms of energy and in rupees, reduction of carbon footprint, maintenance schedule and cost benefits of rooftop solar plant