Have solar power? Sell it

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 23

THERE IS good news for those using solar energy in Bengal — soon they will be able to sell their unutilised electricity to the CESC and the State Electricity Board to earn money. This will be the first of its kind initiative in India.
The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WEBREDA) has drafted a proposal in this regard and has presented it to West Bengal Electricity Regularity Commission (WBERC) for approval.
“We are hoping that the commission will be able to implement it from December. And once implemented, all electricity service providers will be bound to buy unutilised solar energy from the household and will have to pay their consumer for the amount of power consumed by them,” said WEBREDA director S.P. Gon Choudhuri.
While the tariff notification is expected from WBERC by December, WEBREDA will launch this first of its kind concept in India from January 1 in 25 houses at Rajarhat as a part of its pilot project.
The process will be simple. A house with solar electricity production unit will have to install a ‘reverse meter’ or ‘export meter’ at a very nominal price. This meter will be installed near the CESC or state electricity board meter box. The consumer will not need separate wiring for using powers from electricity board and the solar cell. Instead once the ‘export meter’ is installed, the power from two separate sources will be switched ‘in’ and ‘out’ automatically.
“A consumer often does not use solar power produced throughout the day. If attached to the grid of the electricity service provider, the extra unit produced will automatically flow into their main line and could be used by others,” explained Gon Choudhuri.
When CESC or state electricity board officials will come to read the meter they will have to check both. The electricity board will have the option to send their electricity bill by subtracting the tariff that it had to pay to the consumer for utilising his solar electricity or may pay the amount to the consumer by cash.
“This concept is there in every developed country. If every household produces 1 KW of excess solar power and if there are 1 lakh houses then the amount of electricity produced will be equal to the amount of power generated by a thermal unit in a day. This will help to curb pollution from emission and power usage,” said Gon Choudhuri.
The WBERC and WEBREDA are now busy deciding on the tariff. “Negotiations are on. We want that those who will sell solar power get preferential tariff from the electricity service providers. The tariff will be act as an incentive and inspire people to have solar power units installed,” said Gon Choudhuri.
But the question is that will electricity boards agree to such an arrangement?
As per the Indian Electricity Act, 2003, electricity boards will have to buy solar power once WBERC implements its decision. “They are bound by law to buy excess solar power from households. They know that power supplied by them is not eco-friendly and are responsible for global warming. This procedure is accepted the world over by service providers to promote green power and the same will happen in India too,” said Gon Choudhuri.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com