BOT Model for Solar Rooftop Projects in Housing Society

BOT Model for Solar Rooftop Projects in Housing Society

Most of the housing societies aim to switch to solar energy which is a renewable source as well as an economical solution in the long run. The prospect of uninterrupted power at a considerably lower rate is attractive. However, there a few factors that stop housing societies from installing rooftop solar panels. A few of them are listed below:

• Lack of capital required for initial setup and installation: This is a major challenge faced while venturing into rooftop installation. The housing society is unsure about investing the capital or more often than not, they do not have the required capital.
• Inability to obtain the technical information and expertise required for the installation: The technical knowledge regarding the allowable weight that the roof can carry, the specifications and quality of panels, inverter, cables, mounting system, etc. overwhelms the owners to not venture into it.
• Hesitance to bear the risk of owning the solar system installed: The question of who will bear the risks of the panels installed arises when the number of stakeholders is high. It usually proves harder to establish a common ground.
• Hesitance to carry out the maintenance of the panels: Similar to owning the risks involved in rooftop projects, it is harder to appoint and decide a person who would conduct the maintenance of the panels periodically.
• Metering regulations: It is vital to possess knowledge regarding the metering system adopted and rules that apply. Managing this proves to be overwhelming to most.  

These factors stop the housing societies from installing the solar system on their roof. Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model is a much-needed solution to this problem.

BOT model has recently been catching up in solar rooftop projects. With the initial risk and development responsibilities on the developer, the consumers get to adopt the green initiative with minimum involvement. This system provides a certain advantage for the consumers. These advantages include:

• Requires zero initial investment
• Obtaining solar power at cheaper tariff
• Operation and maintenance will be taken care by the developer until the transfer period
• Solar panels on the rooftop act as insulator thereby reducing the A/C load required on the top floor
• It helps the building fulfil their sustainability goals by adopting green energy

The consumers or house owners need not make any initial payment under this system. They only need to provide the space on the rooftop. A private company will install the solar panels. The owners will get electricity at a fixed price per unit for a specified time duration. The electricity charges will remain constant for the duration specified. Upon the end of fixed period, the private firm will hand over the solar plant to the owner. The energy from the plant will be sold by the private company to recover the cost incurred.

This system of solar panel installation on private residential buildings is approved by the UT Administration under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model. A petition was filed by the nodal agency for installation of solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plants on rooftops, Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST), for approval of RESCO with a BOT model. The capacity of the plants will be 5kWp - 10kWp for residential sectors.

We at SolarMarts believe that the popularization and adoption of BOT model will encourage more and more housing societies to opt for solar rooftop projects. Furthermore, it would lessen the load on electricity boards and help India in achieving the sustainable and renewable energy targets set for the future.