Off-Grid solar systems are critical for backup power infrastructure

The off-grid solar industry is predicted to grow at a CAGR of more than 8 percent by 2026. The declining cost of solar PV and batteries is a major driver of the global off-grid solar market. In 2020, solar PV module prices will have dropped by roughly 70 percent. This, in turn, is expected to boost the expansion of the off-grid solar sector. However, high installation costs and inadequate maintenance methods stifle growth in the solar photovoltaic business. Furthermore, the increased deployment of alternative renewable energy sources is projected to stymie the market’s growth.
Role of off-grid solar systems in India
India had surpassed 50 GW of total installed solar capacity as of February 28, 2022, among which 42 GW came from ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, 6.48 GW from rooftop solar (RTS), and 1.48 GW from off-grid solar PV. This milestone could be achieved as India adds a record 10 GW of solar energy to its cumulative capacity in 2021, the highest capacity addition in 12 months, registering a whopping 200 percent year-on-year growth.
Commenting on this, Gautam Mohanka, Managing Director of Gautam Solar, says, “These capacity additions are significant for India to meet its ambitious target of generating 500 GW from renewable energy by 2030; 300 GW is projected to be from solar power.” India is presently in the fifth position globally in solar power deployment, contributing around 6.5 percent of the total solar capacity of the world.
Shubhaang Gupta, Director of Solar Universe India, says, “The availability of energy in a given region determines society’s standard of living and progress.” As the penetration of grid electricity increases and reaches tier 3 and 4 cities, there will be a slight fall in demand for smaller off-grid products such as solar lamps and torch lights. Still, the need for other off-grid products such as solar panels, batteries, inverters, and charge controller units will increase tenfold as the standard of living and per capita incomes increase.
Amitesh Sharma, Director of Greenfinity Powertech India, explains the significance of solar off-grid solutions, “Solar off-grid solutions are going to play a key role in the coming years.” Off-grid solar solutions are more useful in areas with little or no power. Off-grid solar solutions provide better energy storage options so that the energy stored in these off-grid systems can be utilised at such times. Earlier, batteries were too bulky and difficult to handle. Today, batteries are made up of lithium-ion cells and can be used for 10 to 15 years. Moreover, these batteries are light in weight. Such innovations will further allow us to store more power for later usage.
Speaking about key influencing drivers, Nandkumar Pai, CEO of PV Cells and Modules at RenewSys, says rural electrification and access to uninterrupted power for specialised applications wildly pumping. Schemes that support these, like the KUSUM scheme for smaller applications like street lights and EV-allied off-grid uses, etc., influence the demand for solar off-grid products and solutions.
Products and equipment used to maintain efficiency in the solar PV system
We need adequate cleaning solutions for maintenance to create more power and get the most out of solar energy. “Greenfinity,” on the other hand, focuses on comprehensive and efficient after-sales services, including O&M for already installed parts in solar power plants. We keep these solar power plants in good working order by using adequate cleaning systems and regular preventative maintenance. “We also monitor the panel’s performance through robotic cleaning, which helps to scale the plant’s performance,” says Sharma.
Adding more details on the required products, Gupta explains that a charge controller and inverter are at the heart of any off-solar product or system, with battery storage acting as the brain and solar panels as the gut. “This equipment is common to all off-grid solar products; however, the technology, size, and deliverable features vary depending on the product’s ultimate use.”
Here, Pai explains that one can choose their required equipment and solutions depending on the location, space, and cost limitations. The choices include (a) high-output, large-format Format Modules with outputs upwards of 535 Wp. These are mostly mono PERC modules, which can be mono or bi-facial. (b) High-Performance (325–335 Wp), Multi- modules Most DCR PV modules belong to this category, making them ideal for pumping applications. Both sets of modules can be used to design solar PV systems that are tailored to specific needs and applications.
Advantages and disadvantages of off-grid solar systems
One of the most significant advantages of off-grid solar is that it functions even during power cuts and in areas with irregular power supplies, based on their energy spending, says Gupta. “Financial access and consumer awareness are the other two key challenges we’ve faced since we started.” And they only got better to a limited extent. “Banks are not willing to finance or extend loans to people in rural areas due to their existing exposure to financing their agricultural incomes,” Gupta adds.
Solar always shines because of the ease of installation, low maintenance, lack of moving parts, and extended system life. Noting the same, Pai believes “being able to choose PV modules based on end-use and space available also helps in accommodating a range of budgets.”
India has over 300 days of bright sunshine across almost the entire country, and solar modules can continue to generate power even on low-light days, so one can say there is access to solar energy throughout the day, all year.
The only real drawback is that solar modules cannot generate power at night. This may not matter for all applications, but when power is needed 24×7, a battery storage set needs to be added to the system to ensure the power supply is maintained throughout the night. This can significantly increase the installation and ownership costs of a system.
“The declining cost of solar PV and batteries is a major driver of the global off-grid solar market.” – Gautam Mohanka, Managing Director, Gautam Solar.
“Increase in per capita power consumption, the demand for Offgrid products such as solar panels, batteries, inverters, and charge controller units will increase tenfold.” – Shubhaang Gupta, Director, Solar Universe India.
“Solar off-grid solutions will play a vital role in the coming years.” – Amitesh Sharma, Director, Greenfinity Powertech India.
“Rural electrification and access to uninterrupted power specialised applications, esp. Pumping and government are key drivers.” – Nandkumar Pai, CEO – PV Cells & Modules, RenewSys.