Tag: solar 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.

How Effectively Do Solar Panels Work On A Cloudy Day?

by vemcoblogs -
Fickle British weather poses threat to future electricity supplies | Financial Times

Solar panels essentially receive sunlight to convert into electricity which can be consumed. This is why they are usually installed in such a way that lets them receive maximum sunshine. However, what happens on days that are particularly cloudy? Do the solar panels still work when there is a significant cloud cover? This is a pertinent question that has a bearing on the functionality of your home or business’s solar power system. To answer it, yes, solar panels do work even when it’s cloudy. Let’s explore this further.

What effect does cloud coverage have on solar output? Factors like the quality of the solar panels and the density of the clouds determine this. Some solar panels work well in reflected light, which implies they can capture a broader spectrum of sunlight and can generate enough power even on overcast days. Usually, solar panels tend to work at 80% of maximum output when it’s cloudy. It takes extremely dense clouds that block the sun’s ray’s completely to prevent solar panels from working.

Let’s also take into account the fact that in big cities where rain and cloud prevail for much of the year, solar panel installations continue to be a rising trend. A major reason for this is the high cost of electricity in such places, and switching to solar panels can reduce electricity bills drastically. It is also an indication that solar panels can run well despite cloudy conditions.

Another factor is a phenomenon that takes place when the sun emerges from a cloud, which causes its light to become magnified due to refraction, thereby resulting in stronger solar radiation even on a cloudy day.

Besides, the main element in producing solar energy is daylight rather than sunlight. Photovoltaic (PV) panels can use either direct or indirect sunlight to capture solar energy to convert into photovoltaic energy, which subsequently gets converted into electricity. On cloudy days, the solar panels may not work at peak efficiency as on sunny days, but you can make up for the difference in solar output with storage solutions like solar net metering. With this, the required electricity can be drawn from the electrical grid even on cloudy days.

All in all, cloud cover is not a matter of concern when it comes to investing in solar energy. This is mainly because on cloudy days there is only a small dip in solar output which lasts a very brief period of time.

VEMC is a well-established solar services company that provides end-to-end 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.

Solar Lease or Solar Financing — How Can You Choose What’s Better for You?

by vemcoblogs -

So you’ve decided to make the switch to solar energy. Great move! However, you’re still wondering how best to finance this. Solar lease and solar financing are two of the most common ways with which you can shift to the new system. Both enable you to install solar panels without having to pay the enormous cost of the system upfront. Let’s understand what each of these is.

Solar lease

When you take a solar lease, it means you make a monthly payment to the solar installer rather than owning the solar panels yourself. This reduces the amount of money that you have to pay overall. You benefit from this arrangement by consuming solar energy for your household or business needs and subsequently, reducing your electricity bills because solar energy is efficient and less of it is required to power your home or office than normal electricity.

Solar financing

In solar financing, you take a loan to buy and install the solar panels. You can pay this off over the tenure. With the cost of solar panels steadily declining with time, many are opting for this option as the main benefit is that you gain ownership of the solar panels whereas, in solar leasing, you don’t.

Solar leases vs solar financing

Both solar loans and solar leases allow you to pay a lesser amount of money upfront when installing the solar panels. However, you will need to consider the terms of both scenarios in order to determine which is better for you. Some perks, such as tax exemptions by the government, may not be available to you if you choose the solar leasing option. On the other hand, if the interest rates for solar financing are too high, it may not be ideal for you. However, in the long run, solar financing may be a less costly option rather than paying a continual sum every month like in the case of solar leasing. As well, keep in mind that maintenance becomes less of a responsibility for you when you choose to lease. No matter which option you choose, your utility bills will dip from switching to solar energy, so that is a cost-saving benefit either way.

On the flip side, the return on investment from solar panels is higher when you go for solar financing rather than leasing. When making your final decision, you must weigh the pros and cons of each option and choose the one that matches your needs best. If you value ownership, you may want to consider solar financing. If you prefer to pay a lower sum every month for the entire duration of having the solar panels installed and like the convenience of maintenance and servicing taken care of, you may want to select solar leasing.

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

O&M Issues in PV Solar Energy

by vemcoblogs -
Solar PV Operations and Maintenance

Solar power systems have a life-span of 20-25 years which makes their Operations and Maintenance (O&M) very important. This is to maximise energy production and minimise maintenance costs over the lifetime of the system. Maintenance is a continuous process which not only reduces the risks and costs associated with sudden breakdowns, but also keeps the system at prime efficiency levels. Fortunately, solar systems have lower maintenance and servicing requirements as compared to other energy generating technologies. In this blog, we’ll take you through some of the common O&M issues of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems and the approach to deal with them.

Natural Degradation

All solar cells degrade naturally, regardless of the environment they are installed in. However, the rate of degradation depends on the material of the PV panels. For instance, monocrystalline silicon panels have the lowest rate of degradation while copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) panels have one of the highest. Since the material directly affects the cost of the panels, choosing the type of panels is essentially a planning, budgeting and investment decision.

Lightning Protection

Lightning strikes can damage the solar power system by causing a power surge within the array. It is important to have a grounding system in place to redirect the energy from the lightning, away from the panels and into the ground. While the mounting system of the panels itself plays the role of grounding it, the material of the mounting system must be chosen carefully. This also depends on the type of foundation of the system. Besides having a robust grounding system in place, it is advisable to install surge protection equipment for backup safety.

Failure of Components

Cracking of panels and their visual discolouration can affect the efficiency of the panels. Both of these are irreversible damages. High temperatures can damage the solar panels by producing hotspots on them. Inverter downtime is another common issue with PV solar systems and their scheduled maintenance is a critical part of a solar O&M strategy. For static solar panels, ideal panel orientation is necessary to get the highest output. In case of tracking systems, it is important to regularly check the moving parts like gearboxes, motors, and actuators.

Weather Conditions

The environment impacts the durability of PV systems and adequate measures must be taken to offset its effect. For instance, regular cleaning and wiping may be required in windy or arid areas while sloping solar panels can avoid an accumulation of snow in cold regions. In the case of hailstorms, protective covers could be useful to prevent damage to the panels.

That said, it’s absolutely necessary to have an O&M plan in place for your solar plant to alleviate long-term costs. At VEMCO Solar, our valued clients are provided with customized plans to fit all their needs. VEMCO Solar (Check out our story) offers end-to-end solutions and has empanelled channel partners with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, for solar PV rooftop, small power plant system integrators, and installation. Guided by the knowledge gained by VEMC over 72 years, our aim is to be by your side at every step of the way. VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. Please feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445.