From Talking About Alternative Energy to Rooftop Solar – Finally!

 Back in 2012, I had written a blog on Alternative Energy. More than a decade later, I finally have something more tangible to share!

Have moved from writing about alternative energy to actually generating some! ☀️

Not just to prove that I too am affected by Solomon's Paradox—the tendency to give good advice to others but take much longer to follow it ourselves! 😄

After quite a bit of calculation, comparison and discussion, we finally went ahead and installed the panels.

I just wanted to share a few important points from my experience for those who are considering going solar.

Is it worth it?

In my opinion, if your electricity bill is consistently around ₹5,000 or more for two months, it is definitely worth exploring.

But don't simply look at your total consumption and install the maximum possible capacity. Understand your consumption pattern and the applicable tariff slabs, and size the system accordingly.

For example, if your consumption is around 850 units in two months, instead of trying to generate all 850 units, you could consider a smaller system.

A 2 kW system can generate roughly 10 units a day on average, or around 600 units over two months, depending on location, season, weather and system efficiency.

So, in this example:

Consumption: 850 units
Solar generation: ~600 units
Net consumption: ~250 units

The important point is that the solar generation should ideally help bring your net consumption into a lower tariff slab, rather than simply generating as much electricity as possible.

There may not be much financial advantage in installing a significantly larger system and exporting a large surplus to the grid, while your initial investment (CAPEX) keeps increasing.

So, what's the right time to install?

Now!

Especially for those in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, it is worth checking the subsidies currently available from the Central and State Governments before making a decision. The applicable schemes and amounts can change, so do check the latest eligibility and subsidy details before proceeding.

Finally, identify a reliable installation vendor. A good vendor can take care of the entire process—from site assessment and system design to installation, documentation and subsidy-related formalities.

For me, the journey from writing about alternative energy in 2012 to actually installing solar panels at home has taken quite a few years. (Better late than never!)

And yes, I am happy to say that this time, the calculations finally led to action!