Module mounting structures are key to solar PV projects

“Good quality mounting structures on a ground-mounted or rooftop solar project not only help maintain the optimum generation, but these structures also need to withstand the weight of solar panels, high wind speeds, and varying temperatures.”
Sanjay Deshmukh, CEO Pearl Energy solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Sanjay Deshmukh, CEO Pearl Energy solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd. discusses the extensive range of products and services the company provides for the solar energy sector and the importance of module mounting structures in a solar photovoltaic (PV) project.

Kindly walk us through your key product profile.
Madhuri Solar is a brand of Pearl Enterprises, providing solar products and services on pan India level. Madhuri Solar has always focused on becoming an agile, high-performance company by consistently delivering high-quality products and services.

Our extensive product range consists of solar-powered products such as water heaters, street lights, lanterns, home light systems, corporate gifts, solar wind mills, education kits, domestic water pumps, agriculture water pumps, on-grid/off-grid rooftop systems, etc.

How do you define the role of solar in on-grid and off-grid applications and net metering?
On-grid rooftop solar mainly consists of three major components. These are solar PV modules, mounting structure for the modules, and inverter or power conditioning units. Solar panels convert solar energy in the form of light into electricity in DC power. The DC power is converted into AC power by the inverter/power conditioning unit which is connected to the power grid through AC distribution board. The AC power output can be measured through the metering panel connected to it. The system can be synchronised with the grid and the electricity can be exported to the grid depending upon solar power generation and local consumption.

An off-grid system is completely independent of the electricity grid and it requires that the solar panels are able to produce enough electricity to cover 100 percent of the energy needs of the building. Most homes have higher energy demand in the evening or at night, so off-grid systems usually use either a battery (to store the energy produced during the day) or a backup source of energy (like a generator). Off-grid systems are more complex and less flexible than grid-tied systems.

When your solar plant generates more power than you need, that power is sent to the grid in exchange for credits. Then, at night or other times when your solar plants are underproducing, you pull power from the grid and use these credits to offset the costs of that power. Net metering helps you account for these differences by crediting you for the excess electricity your plants produce so that you can use it later.

Do you think that the quality of solar structures is being compromised owing to low tariffs?
Module mounting structures are the backbone of any solar photovoltaic (PV) energy project. Good quality mounting structures on a ground-mounted or rooftop solar project not only help maintain the optimum generation, but these structures also need to withstand the weight of solar panels, high wind speeds, and varying temperatures. We cannot compromise the quality of the solar structure.

What is your growth expectation for the next two years?
As Madhuri Solar has started its journey in the African continent in 2020, in the upcoming years Madhuri Solar will break its own records.