The setup process and things to consider for going solar

India crossed its 40 GW rooftop solar goal recently in 2022. Beyond a goal line and metric, what this means is rooftop solar is becoming a frequent addition to many houses across the country. As more people are transitioning to solar, its important to those considering to do so as well to understand the installation process and the various factors around it first. Let’s get started.

<aside>
💡 TL;DR

1. Solar panel setup requires Solar panels, Charge controller, Inverter/UPS, and Battery (For Grid connected system)
2. The installation process includes setting up of mounts & installing modules, connection of system to a solar inverter, linkage of solar inverter with grid
3. Pre-requisites for Installation – Electricity required for household, amount of sunlight & climate condition in the area, size & type of panels, grid or off-grid system
4. Overall expenses will be variable based on policy in states, subsidy availed, labour cost in the state etc.

</aside>

What do you need for your setup

Here are some basic and general components that are required for solar panel system installation at home.

1. Solar Panels; Solar panels or photovoltaic cells are the main components or we can say the backbone of the solar power system. There are some types of solar panels such as polycrystalline and monocrystalline. ****The selection criteria for a solar panel are different that is space, efficiency, and cost.

2. Charge Controller; Charge controller is a device that is used to regulate the voltage and current from solar panels connected to the batteries or inverter.

4. Inverter/UPS; An inverter is a device that converts DC power supply into AC power supply. Inverter and converter are also known as UPS (uninterrupted power supply).

3. Battery (optional if opting for a grid connected system); Batteries are used for backup charge storage. There are different types of batteries used in a solar system for backup and storage systems overnight as direct power is not available from sunlight.

The installation process

Solar panels are generally installed on rooftops, building tops, or stand-alone facilities as they perform best when placed in direct sunlight. Following are the steps included in the installation process:

• Setting up the mounts and installing modules

  The first step is to fix the mount that will support the solar panel (south facing for those in the northern hemisphere and vice versa). The mounting structure should be slightly tilted (around 18 to 36 degs). The angle of the tilt could be between 18 to 36 degrees. Many companies use a solar tracker to increase conversation efficiency. Once the mounts go up, then the solar modules are tethered to the mount via bolts

• Connecting the system to a solar inverter

  The next step is to do the electrical wiring. They can be connected in series connection or parallel connection as per required configuration to the solar inverter. The positive wire of the solar system is attached to the positive terminal of the inverter and the negative wire is attached with the negative terminal. After that, the inverter could be connected to a solar battery or the grid through the meter.

• Linking solar inverter with the grid

  When all the connections are done, it’s time to switch on the inverter and main switch of the home. Most solar systems have a digital meter that shows the stats regarding the generation and usage of electricity. Most folks opt for a grid-connected system to maximise the use of their power system and also as an alternative to having a more expensive battery system. However connecting with the grid requires permits and certification from your local utility.

Things to consider before installing

If you have made up your mind about installing solar panels System in your house then you should consider the following factors that are involved in the solar panel installation. Following are the factors:

1. The electrical need of your household; Before choosing a solar power system for your home you should consider the amount of electricity needed in your home. As a rule the more electricity you use the more panels you need to install.
2. The amount of sunlight and the climate in the area; Another critical factor is the amount of sunlight your house receives during a calendar year. The overall climate of the region and the amount of sunlight available per day is important to know the size of installation you require.

• The size and type of a panel; The standard size of a photovoltaic panel used in most places globally is either a 60 cell panel or a 72 cell panel. The size does not always equal efficiency; Mono-crystalline panels have higher efficiency as compared to poly-crystalline; and both of those have much higher efficiency as compared to thin film panels.
• Grid-connected photovoltaic systems vs standalone photovoltaic systems

  There are two types of residential solar systems that you might choose from, a grid-connected and a standalone power system. The latter is often referred to as an off-grid system.

  As mentioned in the above section about connecting systems to grid, most users choose a grid-connected PV system rather than standalone photovoltaic systems because it somewhat eliminates the need of having a battery system along with their panels.

The cost factors

While the make of the panels, what kind of an inverter to use or wether you need a battery system can play a large part in the overall expense of going solar, other variabilities could arise due to policy requirements, subsidy available and labour costs in the geography of choice.