You need to invest just Rs 50,000 to set up a solar rooftop system with a capacity to generate power of one KW in Andhra Pradesh.

The State Government has come out with an incentive scheme to encourage flat owners to install solar rooftop system to meet part of their household power requirement.  The scheme involves a 30 per cent subsidy from the Government of India and 20 per cent from the State Government.

In order to showcase the economic benefits of installing such a system atop flats, the State Government is organising a two-day exhibition for the public in Hyderabad fro August 24, which will also feature the vendors and the various equipment needed to set up such a system.

After the State Government finalised the net metering policy two months ago, several domestic consumers, commercial establishments and industries have been showing interest.

M Kamalakar Babu, managing director of New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of AP, said for every KW of power installed on the roof will generate 1,000 to 1,200 units a year, with the cost of a system ranging from Rs one to Rs 1.10 lakh per KW. In other words, domestic consumers will have to pay half of this cost to set up the unit, which will have a pay back time of less than seven years, he told media persons here today.

Excess power generated by the system can be sold to the grid for about Rs 3 a unit, he pointed out.

amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

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