Faq

While the use of solar energy has been growing exponentially in the last twenty years, the prices of PV cells have been dropping. Currently, the price of each PV cell is 99% lower than it was in 1976. Moreover, because solar energy is such an environmentally friendly solution, many governments are offering grants and incentives for the installation of panels. Based on current average electricity costs, and assuming modest inflation of energy prices, the payback period should be between 4 and 6 years.

On average, you need 80 square feet of space to generate 1 kW of solar energy. Considering that a typical household uses around 4 to 5 kilowatts of electricity per day, it is safe to assume that to supply all of your electricity or heating needs with solar energy, you may need up to 400 square feet of roof space. However, already harnessing 2KW a day from solar energy systems cuts the energy bill in half.

Solar panels installed today will produce a reasonable amount of solar energy for about 30 to 40 years, without the need of replacing them.

No, the electricity generated is either used during the day in-house, or it is automatically exported back to your electricity provider who will pay you for each unit thus produced.

Solar Modules and Inverters are the main components of a solar power system and they constitute 70% of the project cost.

PV, short for Photovoltaic, derives its name from the process of converting light (‘photo’) directly into electricity (‘voltaic’). Simply put, a Solar PV system is a power station that generates electricity from sunlight. The main components of a Solar PV system are:

Solar Panels/Modules: Solar panels consist of a group of small cells made from semiconductor material. When the sun’s light falls on the modules, it excites the electrons, thereby creating direct current (DC).

Storage Battery: The best use of solar energy is to consume it while it is being generated. If the requirement is to store this power and consume it in the non-sunny hours, then solar energy can be stored in batteries for later consumption

Solar Inverter: The DC electricity goes into an inverter that converts it into alternating current (AC). We use AC for running our household or office or factory equipment.

A) If you planning to install a solar plant, below are some things to consider:

B) What are your energy demands? How do you consume the power?

C) What is the availability of the shadow free area in your building?

D) What is the business model you find more commercially viable (CAPEX or RESCO)

E) What is going to be the savings?

1. CAPEX
2. RESCO or OPEX

What is the difference between CAPEX and OPEX model?

There are two main models:

OPEX Model – In this, the producer owns the asset (Plant). The consumer and the producer enters a PPA (power purchase agreement) for a an agreed duration of time which is typically 15-25 years. During the tenure of PPA, the consumer pays the producer for the power generated at a discounted tariff. After the PPA terminates, the asset is transferred to the consumer on a nominal cost.

 CAPEX model – In this, end consumer owns the asset (Plant) and can claim accelerated depreciation.

TCM Solar is a dedicated distributed (rooftop) solar power developer catering to domestic, industrial and commercial clients.

TCM works on OPEX model or RESCO model:

We set up on-site solar power plants (on rooftops, as carports, on grounds and/or on superstructures). These plants integrate seamlessly with the clients’ existing grid and/or DG system

The solar plants are set up entirely on our own cost and are also maintained by us throughout the project term.

TCM enters into a long term (15-25 years) Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with its clients. At the end of the PPA term, the plant is transferred free of cost (usually INR 1) to the client.

As the minimum life of the solar plant is 25 years, the client usually enjoys at least 5-10 years of free electricity from the solar plant.

The electricity price for solar power is agreed for the entire PPA period at the beginning of the agreement. This price is always 10% to 15% lower than the client’s existing grid tariff, ensuring continuous savings to the client throughout the PPA term.

TCM bills its clients every month on the basis of actual energy generated by the solar plant. This ensures that the entire performance risk is borne by us as we only get paid for what we generate.

We ensure that our solar plant has a 99%+ Uptime

We undertake stiff plant performance targets and agree to compensate the client if such targets are not met.

Generally, the asset is transferred to the client at nominal value. However, this will vary depending on the final commercial agreement between the client and TCM.

TCM sells the solar electricity at a price (“Solar Tariff”), which is lesser than your current cost of power from Distribution Company and Diesel Generator Backup set. With no startup Capital investment from you, systems start paying for itself immediately and as the gap between solar tariff and the Distribution company power cost increase over the years; the savings also increase.

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To install solar power systems on individual residential Roof Tops under OPEX Model, one must consider the following: 

1. What is my energy demand and how much power do I consume? This can be assessed from your existing EB bill and you can seek the help of our energy auditor to carry out this process.
2. What is availability of shadow free area on the proposed building top
3. What are the state Electricity board regulations in the state?

Usually any proposal comes with less than 25kWp TCM may not be a viable proposition for both customer and investor, hence not advisable.

TCM has developed a proprietary client selection model and undertake the comprehensive analysis for entering contractual arrangement with any client. The Client selection model broadly comprises analysis on

 Sector of Operation of Client.

Company Business emphasis on corporate governance.

Financial Analysis of Client.

Analysis on electricity consumption and load analysis of client.

External Credit Rating, if available.

Solar plants by TCM are suitable for Business and Domestic establishments. We have clients ranging from Industries, Educational Institutes, Hotels, Hospitals, and Malls who have adopted rooftop solar solution.

Yes. TCM can structure the tenure of PPA and tariff as per requirement of customer. The Solar tariff can be flat over the tenure or escalating or combination of flat & escalating or any other customized tariff stream.

TCM will help guide the client in obtaining all the necessary regulatory approvals and if the client desires this to be done by TCM on his/her behalf, we will do so on a cost nominal towards the service.

Yes, TCM installations will come with necessary insurance cover that meets the prudent framework of project insurance, comprehensively covered construction and operation. TCM also complies with all statutory requirements including workman compensation and third party liability.

The investor according to its constitution will own projects during the tenure of operation

Our Installation size can be anything starts from 3kWp to 1000kWp+

Our Engineers will do a proper evaluation and their conclusion will be the guiding factor for a decision.

TCM uses non-penetrating structures, which are mounted without any puncturing in most of the cases. Even otherwise also it is our responsibility to see that the integrity of roof is maintained. The load of the entire solar plant is about 10-15 kg/square meters and can easily be taken by any roof.

TCM offers a Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar plant which matches the frequency and voltage of your Grid and Diesel Generator and runs in sync with them. The electricity created by the solar plant is exactly like the one you are sourcing from Grid/DG and it will be fed in simultaneously with them. Thus, there will be no voltage fluctuations and you can use/connect any number of heavy loads equipment.

Below are the basic requirements TCM needs to assess the generation capacity based on availability of space and load demand

•  Company Details/Deck
• Location of the roof/ground (Latitude and Longitude on Google map)
• Electricity bill for last 3 months
• Contract Demand