Solar Net Metering in India
Net metering is a billing method that credits solar system owners for electricity exported onto the electricity grid. Under the simplest form of net metering, a utility customer’s billing meter runs backward as solar electricity is generated and exported to the electricity grid, and forward as electricity is consumed from the grid. At the end of a billing period, the customer receives a bill for net electricity, which is the amount of electricity consumed minus the amount of electricity produced and exported by the utility customer’s photovoltaic (PV) system. This policy allows PV system owners to offset electricity purchases from the utility with every kilowatt-hour of solar electricity a PV system produces.
The policies in this differ a lot from region to region. There are two main benefits of net metering:
1. Feed Extra in to Grid: Whatever extra energy you produce, can be fed into the grid. This basically is significantly important because it allows you to bypass using battery bank to store energy that you dont consume for later. Batteries are expensive with high maintenance, net metering allows for a significant reduction in cost savings.
2. Switch to Grid when you use extra: Imagine that you have your own way of producing electricity; maybe a diesel genset or solar panels and one day you need extra electricity to power your new air-conditioner, but your generated electricity isnt enough. Net metering will allow you to take electricity that you are not able to cover from your system with grid electricity.
Ideally, net metering stands to benefit consumers substantially. Not only will you be able to save money by cutting the cost of batteries but you might also earn money by feeding extra electricity into grid.
In India, no state has as of now rolled out net metering to a full extent.
1. Andhra Pradesh: NREDCAP/ APERC have policies to provide residential roof top net metering along with incentives. Govt. of AP also gives an additional subsidy on top of MNRE subsidy.
Visit - Andhra Pradesh Solar Net Metering Policy
2. Gujrat: State Agency; GEDA is preparing to roll out net metering state wide in Gujrat.
Visit: - Gujrat Net Metering Policy
3. Tamilnadu: TANGEDCO, has brought a commission for solar energy policy. However, net metering is yet to be adopted.
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