Thiruvananthapuram: Rooftop solar power doesn't come cheap. But it is a one-time investment that has become a luring factor for consumers.
Currently, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has got two options on energy renewal system. Under the off-grid system, the owner sets up the plant and sell the power to the board.
On a proper sunny day, a kilovolt solar panel can generate 3.5 units to 4 units per day. For a 2500 sq ft home of a four-member family, a lavish user will consume a maximum of 1- 12 units of power per day.
The second one is the on-grid system, If the building owner is not interested in spending funds, KSEB will set up the solar plant and share 10 per cent of the power generated from the plant with the owner.
"There is a fad among the Malayalis to undertake tress works atop their houses which is being mainly done to bring down the heat, especially during the summer," said Santhosh Sreenivasan, chairman, Address Apartments.
"By setting up solar panels, almost 70 per cent of the space at the rooftop is utilised. In a way, you are killing two birds with one stone."
For a two and three-bedroom apartments, 2 kV and 3 kV solar panels having 1300 - 2300 sq ft respectively are required. Rs 1.25 lakh is needed per kilowatt.
Earlier, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation had come up with a law that common areas in apartments should have solar power. Not many house owners or apartment owners would come forward to set up solar panels. But now things have improved so much, says N. S. Pillai, CMD, KSEB.
He told DC that several companies had come forward when they invited expressions of interest from persons/firms interested in entering a pact to sell solar power up to 200MW.
Over the next few months, KSEB will be setting up 200 MW small scale solar power units across the state where 60, 000 consumers will benefit it.
