Tag: solar panel installation in mumbai

How significant is it to evaluate the right financial model for solar power system?

by vemcoblogs -

Making the shift to solar power can be beneficial for your business, especially, cost-saving in the long run. However, before you can go green, there are a lot of technicalities to take care of.

When you’re considering shifting to solar power, you’ll find two models in the market: the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model and the operating expenditure (OPEX) model.

In this blog, we will be discussing the two models in detail to help you reach an informed decision.

The CAPEX Model

In this type of financial model, the client approaches VEMC to install a solar pump system on the premises owned by the client. After the commission of the system, the ownership gets transferred to the client and VEMC’s scope ends. Hence, in this type of model, the client pays for the installation of the plant, and the ownership too rests with the client.

Some of the advantages of this model are:

  • The client gets to have complete ownership of the plant and its operation
  • Based on the capacity of the solar plant, the client can save sizeable margins on electricity
  • The client can earn several subsidies and taxes from government bodies, for example, the central finance assistantship (CFA)
  • The client can be partially immune to rising utility electricity prices
  • Industrial and commercial clients can get accelerated depreciation benefits as well

The OPEX Model

In the OPEX model, the investor invests in the project and the client only pays for the power he consumes. The amount of consumption is agreed upon in a contract known as the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

What is PPA financing?

The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) covers the contractual terms of the solar plant and the individual roles of the parties involved. There are usually three parties involved in such a contract – the investor, the installer, and the end client. VEMC is usually the installer for most of the clients. The investor invests in the solar plant and the client buys all or part of the power they want to consume at a rate that can be fixed or changed with time. VEMC installs the plant as per the investor and client’s approval and takes ownership of the plant’s annual maintenance. The client can terminate the agreement after payment of a certain amount or buy the plant directly from the investor.

Choosing the right financial model for your solar investment will depend on your budget and purpose. If you have the resources to take all the responsibility for the installation and maintenance of the plant, CAPEX will be a good choice. But if you don’t have dedicated personnel to look after the systems, OPEX can be a good option for you.

VEMC is a well-established solar EPC company in Mumbai and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. VEMCO Solar is a market leader in solar solutions — be it solar panel installation, procurement, commissioning, net metering, or electrical connections. If you are looking for solar panel installation in Mumbai or solar O&M, please reach out to us at +91 98199 07445, and we will be happy to provide you with customized support and services.

Bird droppings and nesting on solar panels causes loss of efficiency by 2%. Ways to avoid it.

by vemcoblogs -

Solar panels are an effective and environment-friendly choice for your commercial spaces, to cut down on harmful pollution. It not only helps the planet, but also enables energy efficiency in a sustainable way. However, since the panels are located outdoors, they may attract various outside elements such as birds. Many people are unsure about whether solar panels hurt birds or vice versa.

In this blog, we discuss in detail about the relation between birds and solar panels.

Solar panels and birds

It’s common knowledge that birds may find a good nesting ground in your solar panels and may soil your gutters and panels. What should you do about it? And how should you save the birds as well as your solar panels? Let’s learn more.

Do solar panels benefit birds?

This may come as a surprise but solar panels benefit birds. Currently, some of the primary sources of electricity are oil, coal, and natural gas. They cause carbon pollution in the air and form a layer in the atmosphere that traps heat. Apart from various issues around global warming, it also leads to birds having to find alternate homes. Hence, solar panels are beneficial to birds as they provide them and their young ones with warmth and shelter.

Do solar panels attract birds?

Yes, just like windows, solar panels have reflective surfaces, and such surfaces usually attract birds.

Do solar panels kill birds?

Solar panels don’t kill birds directly. The reflective surfaces of solar panels often resemble water when birds are flying above. The appearance of moving water makes them dive, which eventually hurts them and sometimes, kills them.

Do birds harm solar panels?

Solar panels usually have space between the panels and the roof that allow wiring and ventilation. The shade in these spaces is ideal for birds to take shelter.

Birds usually build nests here as well as leave droppings, broken eggs, etc., under the space available. When these accumulate, they reduce the airflow needed to prevent solar panels from overheating. They can also flow into the gutter, leading to blockages and foul odour. It can also collect on top or under the panels and it’s best to get them cleaned as soon as possible.

Damages from small critters

Critters such as squirrels also enjoy nesting under solar panels and may cause harm by chewing on exposed wires. This could lead to solar panels running inefficiently.

Another serious concern is that nesting materials such as leaves, debris, and chewed wires may also lead to fire hazards.

How to protect your solar panels from birds?

There are several options to look at:

  • Wire Mesh – Building a wire mesh along the edges of the solar panel can help stop birds from nesting under the system. This can also prevent the accumulation of debris.
  • Roof Spikes – They don’t necessarily hurt birds but make it difficult for them to nest.
  • Plastic Predators – Decoys are a great way to ward off birds since they can’t differentiate between artificial and real birds. Like scarecrows, an owl with a swivel head can be very effective in scaring birds away.

Importance of Solar O&M

These various factors can affect the output of your solar panels. Proper operation and maintenance can enhance the lifespan of these systems. The frequency and degree of maintenance of solar systems depend on the installation type, system configuration and location of the setup. You can choose from various types of services such as performance monitoring, preventive maintenance, and corrective maintenance.

VEMC, one of the top solar companies in Mumbai, provides solar panel installation in Mumbai. VEMC provides solar O&M services as well. For more information on our products and help selecting the right ones for you, contact us at +91 98199 07445. With over 72 years of industry experience, VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services.

Does Colour Play a Role in the Way Solar Panels Function?

by vemcoblogs -

Solar panels are designed to absorb incoming solar radiation and use it to generate electricity. It is recommended that we shift our electricity needs from other non-renewable sources to solar energy as it is renewable, relatively safe for the environment, and cheaper to maintain. With the help of solar software, which has increased the effectiveness and usefulness of solar electricity, solar power is now widely used in utilities, businesses, homes, and other applications. It is interesting to note that majority of solar panels are dark blue and black in colour. However, coloured solar panels are also gaining in popularity. So, which colour solar panel is the best for you to buy?

Choosing the right solar panels for your project

Comparing two types of coloured solar panels

First, let’s compare the two most common types of solar panels- black monocrystalline and blue polycrystalline. Black coloured panels are more energy-efficient than blue coloured panels. This means that they require fewer solar cells to absorb larger amounts of solar energy. The advantages of this would be increased solar power generation and conservation of space. Black solar panels also come with a 25-year guarantee and so are well worth the investment. Blue solar panels on the other hand are priced lower and have a relatively low maintenance cost. It therefore can be said that monocrystalline (black) panels are more efficient than polycrystalline (blue) panels, however, this efficiency comes with higher costs. Furthermore, considering environmental factors, blue-coloured solar panels create less waste and generate a lower carbon footprint.

Other colours of solar panels

Other colours of solar panels are available mainly for aesthetic reasons. For example, green-coloured solar panels are recommended for areas surrounded by greenery as they can blend into the surroundings well. Similarly, some buildings may require solar panels of a colour similar to the colour of a building as black or blue panels could be distracting against a building of a contrasting colour. It is true that coloured solar panels come with higher prices and are less efficient. However, solar technology is rapidly growing, and efforts are being made to increase its efficiency and make its availability cheaper.

VEMC, one of the top solar companies in Mumbai, provides solar panel installation in Mumbai. VEMC provides solar o&m services as well. For more information on our products and help selecting the right ones for you, contact us at +91 98199 07445. With over 72 years of industry experience, VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services.

How Can Storage Enhance Your Solar Rooftop Project?

by vemcoblogs -
How Can Storage Enhance Your Solar Rooftop Project?

Although the benefits of switching to a more sustainable renewable energy like solar are quite well known in India by now, what is less talked about are the virtues of storing solar energy for use in the future. Despite the cost of energy storage sometimes continuing to be a barrier, such as in the case of using Li-Ion batteries for the purpose, there can also be commercial benefits to the practice.

You can meet all your energy needs completely with solar storage

In a state where tariff rates are high, it would make sense for a factory using solar energy to maintain the solar capacity below the contract demand. If 20 to 50 percent of the total energy requirement can be met by consuming energy generated by the rooftop solar installation, the entire 100 percent can be met by combining both this as well as the energy storage to keep it cost-efficient even at peak hours of usage like the afternoons and evenings.

You can increase financial savings significantly

Storing solar energy for later use can reap 20 to 30 percent in financial savings for clients. What’s more, this can be provided in the OPEX financial model too. For those clients that are unable to install more than 1MWp of solar panels through net metering, adding a solar energy storage component with battery storage can make up for it.

Ramp up/down demands for thermal power can become more gradual

Solar capacity firming is a concept where a solar installation is operated along with a thermal power plant. The fluctuations in solar energy output call for abrupt changes in balancing the demand for thermal power. Not only does this put pressure on the thermal power plant and result in inefficiency, it can also incur penalties or a higher tariff. By storing energy, this can be smoothened out and prevented.

A solution for industries using batch production

For industrial applications which require batch processes to be run with an online UPS, solar energy storage provides an alternative solution. Additionally, it can even be stacked up for several different applications even without using solar.

Cleaner and cheaper alternative to diesel generators

Storing solar energy is a far more efficient and sustainable solution than using conventional diesel generators which can cause pollution and drive up carbon footprint.

With rapidly improving technology and gradually reducing costs, solar energy storage can become the predominant solution across industries in the near future.

VEMC is a well-established solar services company that provides comprehensive project management services to its clients. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. For inquiries, contact us at +919819907445.

Types Of Solar Panels And The Best Fit For Your Commercial Needs

by vemcoblogs -

One of the foremost choices to make when it comes to procuring a solar system is with regards to the type of solar panel you wish to install. There are broadly three types of solar panels available and each differs from the other in terms of cost, efficiency and aesthetics.

Monocrystalline Panels

This type of panel gets its name from the fact that each cell in the panel has a single crystal of silicon which allows free movement of electrons through the cell, taking its efficiency upto 20% and more. High efficiency means lesser requirement for space and hence, these panels are best suited for residential use as space can be managed efficiently. Monocrystalline panels contain either 60 or 72 cells, depending on the size of the panel. The silicon cells are in the shape of black squares with their corners cut off, giving the panels a deep black aesthetic look.

Polycrystalline Panels

Multiple crystals go into making each cell in these panels which restrict the free flow of electrons through the cell. Their efficiency ranges between 15% and 17% but with increasing innovation in technology, this is expected to improve. Compared to Monocrystalline panels, these panels require more space and therefore, may be slightly challenging to accommodate in a residential setting. These panels also contain 60 or 72 cells but multiple crystals give them a marbled blue appearance, which may not be aesthetically pleasing. However, Polycrystalline panels are more affordable which, despite factors like space and efficiency, has enabled the product to make galloping strides even in the residential market segment in recent years.

Thin Film Solar Panels

These panels are solid black in colour and do not have any silicon cell outlines. Being lightweight and flexible, these are easy to carry and install. Thin-Film panels are the least energy-efficient (10-13% range) and are only suitable for large establishments like industries and utility solar projects with ample space. Being extremely cost-effective due to low energy efficiency and ease of installation makes these panels all the more suited for large-scale commercial establishments. These have a very short life expectancy and require frequent replacement. Depending on the material they’re made of, these panels can be both blue and black.


If you need some assistance to decide on the solar panel that suits your needs the best, feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445. We would we happy to assist you in finding the best match based on your requirements. As one of India’s best solar companies, having 72 years of market experience, VEMC provides end-to-end Solar EPC services to its clients. VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. Our sub-brand VEMCO Solar (Check out our solar story) is a market leader in solar system solutions — be it solar plant erection, procurement, commissioning, solar metering system, or electrical connections. At VEMCO Solar, our valued clients are provided with customised solar services solutions to fit all their needs.