An electricity consumer paying residential tariff and is willing to become a producer of power through photovoltaic (PV) panels is termed as a solar prosumer. The demand for distributed deployment of solar energy through such panels in Europe, USA and Japan arose due to the residential rooftop sector. In contrast, large scale power plants led the solar power growth in India. This article presents some of the efforts made to generate awareness regarding roof top PV plants in India and addresses the reasons behind the Indian residential (and even commercial) electricity consumers' unwillingness to become solar prosumers. In the recent times, the concept of adding energy storage capacity to solar panels is referred to as “prosumage”, still uneconomical at large. Going off-grid is a possible option in the Europe and USA, if an inexpensive storage option is provided to take care of intermittency of solar energy. An unreliable grid is one of the reasons for seeking energy storage in the Indian context. In addition there exists a significant captive power generation capacity through diesel generator sets, wind, biomass and other energy sources. Hybridization of solar with such sources can be a way forward to meet the goals of the solar mission.

Are Indian electricity consumers ready to become solar prosumers

Abstract One of the biggest challenges of rural electrification through renewables is getting people to see the bigger picture: we are not only helping African children who still do their homework by candlelight, there is also a growing market out there yet to be fully tapped by the private sector. It is the proverbial win-win situation. If private companies are willing to take a chance and invest on the extraordinary potential of these countries, there is no telling the proportions that the market might take. In the next few years, renewable energy can become both a formidable boost to Africa's economic development and the answer to the problem of energy access.

Marcus Wiemann

Papers

Off-grid PV in Developing Countries is More Than Poverty Mitigation – It is Sound Business Sense