Most of the experts expected the Union Budget of 2018/19 to be the people's budget given that this was the final budget before the next year's Lok Sabha Elections. However, within a few minutes of the session, it was quite clear that the budget would be more pragmatic than populist. The focus was clearly on the promising rural economy of the country and bringing it up to the next level, be it in terms of connectivity, providing health care or homes. The salaried individual who expected some relief in income tax rates or slabs returned disappointed too. There was good news for companies where Corporate income tax rate has been cut to 25% for those with a turnover of up to Rs 250 crore. For the Solar industries, there was a no-show as the FM barely bought it up. There was no clarity offered on topics like Anti-Dumping and customs duty on solar cells and modules. However, the government reiterated its plans for smart cities and utilization of solar there. The Government has also directed the state to purchase surplus power produced by farmers using solar-powered pumps. Overall, the budget will be looked upon as another year of missed opportunity to build momentum going into 2019, with just 3 years left to achieve 80 GW of the 100 GW National Solar Mission. Overall, the budget has a very 2017/18 feel to it, where not a lot was put on the table for solar industry in specific. MYSUN's Take on the Budget

So eventually the 'election year' has taken the shine away from the 'Sun'. It is disappointing to see that the solar energy sector has been ignored in this year's budget. It was much awaited that the Finance Minister would clear the government's view on customs duty on solar cells and modules, but that has not materialized. Overall, with its overriding focus on farmers, the budget is expected to give a boost to rural consumption which in turn will help India achieve its much higher GDP forecasts for the next year.

Goa's Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar has announced that the Goa Cabinet, after long rounds of discussion has finally approved the new Solar Policy for the state. The new solar policy for Goa will come into full effect around the end of the current financial year. The next two to three months will be utilized for a proper documentation of the policy, which will have three categories, including a 100 KW prosumers.

According to the new policy, a landowner or anyone who can take a NOC from a landowner to set up a solar plant will not be required to take any sort of permission from Civic Authorities for a land conversion, therefore expediting the process of setting up the plant. Solar farms will be permitted to be set up on Comunidade land, as long as a permission can be obtained from the villagers. The prosumers who are which can generate less than 100 KW power would be entitled to get a compensation via Gross Metering, while those above the 100KW mark, can opt for Net Metering.

In an interesting Financial arrangement, the policy adds that state will provide loans up to 50% of the plant cost which can be repaid in the form of units sold back to the State. The new Solar Policy will play a key role in driving the state to the set target of 150 MW by the year 2021.

Source: ET/ TOI

Uttar Pradesh has joined the likes of Punjab and Delhi in increasing the power tariffs of the state. The state has announced that tariffs have been raised by as much as 63% in certain cases. Most of the residents of the state can expect a rise of around 12%. Electricity prices have been on their way up and UP saw 5.47% tariff hike in the year 2015. The current government has reportedly proposed hike of as much as 22% in the coming days, which could make your electricity bills go soaring up.

For the metered urban domestic connections, a hike of 9% has been announced, which would see the first 100 units to be charged at Rs 3 and Rs 4.50 per unit beyond that. It was announced that the average hike for domestic consumers will be in the region of 12%. Post the announcement yesterday, the urban domestic consumer will be hit hard with the tariff for first 150 units now set at Rs 4.90/ unit, for the next 150 to 300 units the slab will be Rs 5.40/ unit, and for 300 to 500 units the revised rate will be Rs 6.20/ unit.If you consume more than 500 units, you will be paying Rs 6.50 rupees per unit.

The only winner in this price hike has been industrial segment consumers, who have been exempted from this price hike as the Government feels raising the same would hamper the growth of the industries and therefore employment opportunities, clearly outlining how cheaper power today is one of the most important factors to consider. The Government has also given a 15% exemption to smaller industries which are operating between 5 AM and 1 PM in the winters.

The worst hit is the unmetered power connections across Uttar Pradesh, where the rise in the tariffs is 63%. UP alone has more than 65 Lakh, unmetered power connections mainly in rural areas. The hike will see the tariffs raised from about Rs 180-200/kW/ month to Rs 300/ kW/ month.Next year, in March 2018, this will be raised to Rs 400/ kW/ month. The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) chairman, S.K. Agarwal stated that this hike is because it was no more ‘viable’ to be supplying power at such low costs. BJP spokesman Manish Shukla further added that this hike is in order to generate enough revenue to meet the promise of power-to-all by end of 2018.

Fixed charges also have come under revision, with the metered connections fixed charges being revised from Rs 50 per month to Rs 80 per month. As a result of this power hike, the government expects to close the gap between the cost of supply and revenue by 0.60 per unit to Rs 0.74 per unit.

With inflation already on the rise, a basic utility like power cannot be done without. The only ones not affected by the news are those who have already installed rooftop solar power plants on their homes and are completely aloof to these power hikes. They are already on a fixed tariff for the next 25 years and must be smiling reading these stories. If you envy them and are looking for savings and a fixed cost for the next 25 years, you should not wait any longer. Click on the button below, and start your solar journey with MYSUN today.

Source: Mint/ ET

Going solar today is not just a decision that is beneficial to the environment but also a high return and safe investment option. You have assured returns in the range of 15-30% depending on your requirement and the system size that you have picked. The Solar PV system requires minimal maintenance and is sure to be active and producing power even 25 years after the installation, making it the new best friend for your home. In these 25 years, not only do the panels on your rooftop produce clean and green energy, they also help reduce your electricity bill making it a win-win. But the advantages of installing solar are far and beyond these. We have shared most popular reasons why you should go solar in a wonderfully crafted infographic in house below.

If you are looking for a full solar service provider, who can not just help install solar but also help you understand the potential of solar at your site and ensure you get the best generation possible as well as provide you with easy to avail solar financing options, MYSUN is the ideal solar partner for you. You can start your solar journey and avail our solar services by scheduling your site survey here. image source: greenoptimistic

Nobody needs to point out that running a successful business in today's world is a challenge. Not only do you have to ensure your services and deliveries are top notch, every now and again, you have to ensure that you are doing things that stand out from what your competitor is doing. Standing out today has become the flag bearer of success and therefore a successful businessman, will not shy away from the tiniest tricks in the book that would help him gain an advantage over the competitors.

At MYSUN, we strongly believe that going solar is an interesting way for your business to literally stand out. Let us explain:

1) Installing a rooftop solar system on your office building automatically elevates the building stature, quite literally too. Thanks to the high rising or even the flush-mounted solar panels, the building stands out in the surrounding and attracts eye balls. It makes a wonderful impression on anyone walking into the building. Don't they say, the first impression is the last impression? Installing a rooftop solar system not just indicates that you are an environmentally cautious organization but also shows that you are a forward thinking and responsible entity, one that will do everything in its power to do things to help conserve the planet. Before you know it, you will become an envy of the neighborhood and seeing you, your neighborhood would go solar too.

2) Going solar ensures that you save a plenty on your electricity bill. A more detailed information for the same has been shared in our blog post specifically aimed at Industrial folks here. Moreover, with a fixed price of power for the next 25 years, you will be saving yourself from all the escalations that the coming years will bring. If you are a business that relies heavily on manufacturing or repair work, which demands a higher supply of power, going solar can be the best investment for you. In several cases, we have seen that a business can save as much as up to 70% of their current electricity bill by going solar. There is also accelerated depreciation (AD) benefits that can be availed for your business which would help reduce your tax liability when you invest into a solar system. You can always opt for Net Metering, in case you are producing excess power and get compensated for the same. All in all, going solar will not just help you save on your electricity costs but also earn credits if you do not utilize the power generated.

3) The costs of going solar have come down tremendously today. So you need not be a Fortune 500 company to take the decision. In fact, solar has achieved grid parity long back, with cost per unit being much lower than coal or Thermal power. The cost of solar equipment including the panels and the inverter has come down dramatically and affordability is no more a problem. There are several solar financing schemes that are available that make ownership even easier. Therefore, today, finances are the last thing that should keep you from going solar.

4) Going solar helps benefit employee satisfaction. A company is only as good as its employees and with greater awareness, today everybody knows about solar. When an employee sees the company investing in solar, it gives a feeling of assurance that the company cares about nature, surroundings, the planet etc and therefore will most likely to treat the employees well. Having solar in your office, therefore, is not just a good economical, but also an HR positive move.

While solar is beneficial to people in all walks of life, particularly for small to medium sized businesses would find tremendous value in going solar. If your office or industry is located in New Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad or one of the surrounding areas, be it Mahendragarh, Manesar, Panipat, Sonepat, Meerut or Rewari, make sure you go ahead and schedule your site survey on MYSUN to be the first ones to benefit from a list of special services, listed for industrial customers or simply call us at +91-9873167009 to talk to our expert solar advisors.

image source: intermtnwindandsolar.com

With the operating period of the current solar policy of Uttar Pradesh already having expired on March 31, 2017, the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has issued a draft UP Solar power policy in draft for the state. The draft policy is open for comments till July 15, 2017. You can view the draft policy above. The draft policy, once approved, will be operative for 5 years or till a new policy is issued.

According to the UP Solar power policy draft, the state of Uttar Pradesh has a solar potential of 23.8GW and is targeting 10.7GW of commissioned solar power by the year 2022, with 4.3GW of this capacity assigned to rooftops. It is also included in the draft that the state is targeting to provide 24 hours of electricity to both rural and urban households by the year 2018-19. Under the draft solar policy of 2017, solar parks with a minimum 100MW capacity will be set up and the Government will provide incentives to purchase land on lease or usage. It is also mandatory that at least 50% of the power produced from the solar parks will have to be sold to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) or a distribution licensee.

To encourage rooftop solar installations, the policy mentions that the Government shall promote and deploy rooftop plants for self-consumption on all State Government and Central Government-owned buildings. As for the incentives, the State Government will provide a subsidy between Rs 10,000/kW and Rs 20,000/kW on the first-come-first-served basis for the first 100MW applications submitted to UPNEDA in the private residential sector. In case the installation is delayed by more than six months, the subsidy will be withdrawn. The subsidy will be disbursed to the customer only after the commissioning of the project and submission of all the documents to UPNEDA. Just like the Solar Policy of Delhi, the height of the module structure will not be counted towards the height of the building and therefore no further permission of construction is needed. The nodal agency, that is UPNEDA will also ensure a single window clearance for all power producers, allowing to expedite the process.

With the policy still under review, we expect further modifications in the content of the UP Solar power policy draft. We are excited to see that the state nodal agency has identified simplification of the process involved in getting permits and approvals as a major thrust area. To provide further support to rooftop solar in the state, the state nodal agency along with the Discoms should work towards better implementation of the Net Metering policy. However, even in the current state, the policy is a much-needed thrust to the solar segment in what is one of the largest states in the country but with a meager 269.26MW of solar power commissioned till the year 2017.

image source: static.wixstatic

Despite being the state with the highest installed solar capacity of about 1.6GW with 529.15 MW being added in the year 2016/17, Tamil Nadu continues to set an example for other states in its bid to increase the uptake of solar. Within the last week, there have been two key announcements that would encourage those in the state to go solar. The state had initially set a target of achieving 3GW of installed solar power by the year 2019, and these latest set of announcements only further establish the commitment of the state government towards encouraging solar in Tamil Nadu.

The first announcement made in the state assembly is that the Tamil Nadu Government has invited bids for a new tender of 1500MW. Lead by the Electricity Minister, Mr. P Thangamani, it was announced that the state plans to increase the installed capacity of the state further by 5GW in a phased manner. For the first phase, 1500MW tender has been issued under the reverse bidding route. According to the policy note issued, Tamil Nadu harnessed more than 1644 million units of solar energy during 2016-17, with an all-time high generation of 1,498 MW achieved on March 27, 2017.

In the other news from Tamil Nadu, the state utility board, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) could be slashing its net metering tariff from Rs 6.63 or Rs 7.23/ kWh to one-third at Rs 2.20/ kWh. This proposal comes on the back of record-breaking low solar tariffs that have been achieved, which makes the current tariffs look obscenely high. A domestic consumer with 'Low Tension' or LT connection today is eligible for a net metering rate of Rs 6.63/kWh while a consumer with 'High Tension' or HT connection receiving Rs 6.91/kWh. In the case of commercial consumers, the rates go up to Rs 7.01 and 7.23 per kWh for LT and HT respectively. With only 91 MW of rooftop capacity so far in the state-approved, it is unclear how this move would help to uptake rooftop solar.

In MYSUN’s view, this proposal if made into a policy could have a negative impact in the push for rooftop solar. Net-Metering has been one of the chief reasons why rooftop solar financially has been so lucrative and slashing the rates will have an impact on the overall return on investment from the project. This decision must be made cautiously as it can have a negative impact and further slow down an already slow-moving deployment.

On the new 1500MW tender, we believe, the recent project auctions of solar in Tamil Nadu have proven to be quite disappointing with bids of the only 117MW received in the 500MW tender in February and just 300MW bid in the 500MW tender that was floated in November last year. It would be interesting to see in the wake of GST just around the corner, and there still a few questions marks looming on the effect of the same on solar, what kind of interest will this tender see. Also worth emphasizing is that the maximum upper tariff limit has been set at Rs 4/kWh for the project and a judicious timeline of 12 months for projects up to 50MW and 24 months for projects above 50MW has been given. With rather relaxed time frames and very reasonable upper tariff limit, at least on paper, this looks like a great opportunity.

Source: 1,2

China has developed an unmanned solar powered drone which can stay in the air for months, if not years. The aircraft is called Caihong or Rainbow and is developed by China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA). It is China’s first domestically designed solar-powered drone which managed to reach a height of 20,000 feet during its test flight. However, during one of the secret test-runs, it managed to fly up to a height of about 65,000 ft. This drone has a wingspan that is over 40 meters wider as compared to the wingspan of the Boeing 737 passenger aircraft. As a reference, the wingspan of a B737 stands at about 34 meters wide. The aircraft has a cruising speed of about 150 to 200 km/h. Caihong is touted as the world’s second largest unmanned plane trailing behind a NASA model. China now has become the third country - after US and UK - in the world to own a solar-powered drone that is capable of flying at a height of 65,000ft.

In comparison, fuel powered conventional drones have a service ceiling of about 26,000 feet. The reason solar drones are able to beat the conventionally fueled drones here is that solar powered drones do not have a need to be constantly refueled and therefore can fly higher. Caihong will be primarily used for early airborne warning, aerial reconnaissance, disaster monitoring, meteorological observation and communications relay. According to reports, China is likely to sell the design of this drone to other countries as well.

Drones have become a vital part of our lives and are being used for various reasons ranging from defense, security to more commercial uses such as enabling home deliveries. With advancement in technology, their use is expected to rise manifold. Solar powered drones definitely are a future prospect as they serve as an excellent alternative to the conventional drones and save the all-important fuel costs to keep an aircraft airborne. With wonderful examples like the Solar Impulse 2 and now the Caihong, we may not be all that far from seeing a proper passenger jet, powered by solar alone.

 

The Goods and Services Tax, also known as GST, is hailed as one of the biggest tax reforms of India and is expected to have a major impact on our economy. The main objective of this reform is to bring uniformity and transparency in the taxation system. In the latest GST council meeting, the agenda was to discuss and fix tax rates for 1211 commodities. The council proposed that few basic items will have no tax while other items will fall under four slabs i.e., 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. But, what will be the effect of GST on solar?

The GST Council proposed that 18% tax be levied on solar cells and modules while coal was put in the lower tax slab of 5% against its current tax incidence of 11.69%. People related to the solar industry were either expecting complete exemption or a place in the 5% tax slab. However, it appears that the sharp decrease in solar tariffs and equipment cost have convinced the government that this sector doesn’t require any financial incentives. This argument was further strengthened by the renewable energy minister Piyush Goyal, who said, “Solar and wind energy have hit record lows and the industry is now able to stand on its own feet without any support.”

According to Bridge to India, this tax rate of 18% will increase module costs by 18%, inverters by 12%, and service costs by 3% therefore, the overall project cost will go up by about 12%.

Some key points worth pondering upon are:

1. This move will increase the overall cost of the under development and under construction projects. According to industry estimates, the overall project cost may go up by 12~14% which would mean that the developers will have to do with much lesser returns than what they would have bid for. Also, the lenders will also start raising questions on the viability and Debt serviceability of these projects.
2. If the impact of GST is passed on to the consumers, then the DISCOMs will resist the increase of tariff rates in a time when solar tariffs for newer auctions are reaching all-time lows while on the other hand solar sector will have to reanalyze its power tariff to make-up for the increased cost of solar production.
3. The government provides up to 30% capital subsidy for rooftop solar projects  on one side and on the other hand, they have introduced this additional tax on solar panels. It remains to be seen how the Central Government looks at this irony.

It definitely is an unexpected hike which will have a domino effect on the industry and might result in delay of some ongoing projects. This will also have an impact on the rooftop industry which has started showing early signs of finally seeing some growth. This additional cost levied by GST on Solar will act as a deterrent for its quick growth and consumer acceptability.

We expect that the government will quickly take stock of the negative impact of the proposed GST structure on the solar industry and work out a mechanism whereby the growth of solar at this crucial juncture for the industry is not stymied. If the rooftop solar systems (which includes Solar Panels) come under 5% GST across India, as it seems from the paper published by the GST Council, then it is a big step forward and the residential, commercial and industrial consumers should take up this opportunity to Go Solar with a uniform tax rate. However is the effect of GST on Solar, as your personal solar advisors, we hope the move to GST will not be an obstacle to the positive traction that the industry is seeing and the Government will act in the best interest of the consumers, like you, who are interested in going solar.

Visit www.itsmysun.com or Dial 9818507770 for all your queries related to buying a solar system for your home, office or building. Post Update: It is mooted that on June 3, a revised figure could be announced. In the mean time, the Revenue Secretary has tweeted the following:

All solar equipments and its parts would attract 5% GST only https://t.co/Dqcq2IctOQ

— Dr Hasmukh Adhia (@adhia03) May 28, 2017

Gurgaon is the second largest district of Haryana. It has undergone rapid development and construction, especially in last five years and is home to various Multinational Companies (MNCs). It is also a well known IT hub & center of various BPO companies. Undoubtedly, Gurgaon is one of the most developed cities in Delhi-NCR region and has the third highest per-capita income in the country after Chandigarh and Mumbai. With rapid development, the daily energy demand in Gurgaon is rising proportionally every year. This rise in demand can’t be met alone via conventional energy resources and therefore residents, industry owners and commercial buildings are being encouraged to look at renewable means of energy. Among all the available renewable sources, Solar energy has gained widespread popularity in Gurgaon in a very short span of time. Currently, Gurgaon has over 20MW total installed capacity of solar power, a major chunk of which is of rooftop solar. As per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Haryana has an overall solar potential of 5GWp. To achieve its overall target Haryana has a long way to go and Gurgaon definitely has a major role to play. But certainly, with thousands of rooftops across Gurgaon and Haryana ready to be solarized, this potential can soon be transformed into reality. Solar energy has come to be accepted as a major source of energy for both present and future. Especially, in a country like India where it is believed that its coal reserve won’t last longer than 2040-50. Haryana, being in the Northern part of India receives around 300 days of bright sunlight, so the state has a huge potential to generate solar power through the installation of rooftop solar power plants in the State. The Government of Haryana in its Solar Power Policy 2016, has planned to increase its electricity generation via solar means to 3200 MWp by 2021-22 out of which 1600 MWp is supposed to be achieved via solar rooftop PV installations. If we talk about benefits of rooftop solar it saves money, is eco-friendly, assures great returns….this list will go on. But not just this, Gurgaon has many other reasons as to why they should go solar and install solar PV modules over their rooftops. There are numerous schemes, incentives, subsidies and policies which are being provided by the state and the central government in order to encourage the rooftop solar PV installations.

1. You can bring down your electricity bill by 20-30% and you’re assured of the same tariff for at least 25 years. For example, if you have a monthly bill of Rs.5000 by going solar you can save around Rs.1100  from the very first month and not just this in just 25 years you’ll save around 4.4 lac by investing just Rs.40,600. Don’t believe us? See it for yourself via our solar calculator...
2. Going solar is a one-time and risk-free investment with an assured return between 15-30% p.a.
3. If you have a residential property then you are eligible for a 30% subsidy with maximum amount being Rs. 17,070/kWp by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), however, it should be noted that this subsidy is on the first-come-first-serve basis.
4. The state has an effective Net-Metering Policy in place which will be governed by Haryana Government Renewable Energy Department (HAREDA), where the power generated in excess can be fed back into the grid and this way a user can not only save but also potentially make money by going solar.
5. Not only this Value Added Tax (VAT), Electricity taxes, cess, electricity duty, wheeling charges, cross subsidy charges, transmission and distribution charges have been waived off completely for both Ground Mounted and Rooftop Solar Projects.
6. Exemption from External Development Charges, Scrutiny Fee and Infrastructure Development Charges for the time during which the solar power plant is operational. This brings some clarity to those involved in Civil and Construction of newer projects and will now help them incorporate Solar as a part of the project, easily.
7. No clearance is required from Haryana Pollution Control Board and would help in accelerating the pace at which projects are executed.
8. The large projects of MW scale will be provided 100% exemption from payment of fee and stamp duty charges for registration of rent/lease deed for the land required for setting up of these projects.
9. Clearances and approvals would be provided through single window clearance (HAREDA) to the developer (within 60 days after submission of complete application, enclosures, fees including LOI).
10. No processing fee is required for this procedure, however an earnest money deposit of   Rs. 2.00 lacs will need to be deposited (Rs. 200/ kW) which is refundable after signing of the PPA.
11. 25 paise per unit rebate on electricity bill will be given to the users feeding electricity back to the grid.

If all the above-mentioned reasons cannot help you to decide whether you should go solar or not then the reasons given below will definitely change your mind. In order to promote solar rooftop installations and achieve its goal of generating 3200 MWp electricity via solar means, the state government has made it mandatory for some buildings to install 3% to 5% of their present connected load on solar. Firstly, new residential buildings of plot size exceeding 500 sq. yards and housing complexes of plot size exceeding 0.5 acres will have to install 3-5% of their connected load on Solar rooftop systems. Secondly, Commercial establishments and Hospitals which have a connected load greater than 50 kW and lastly, Government and private institutions with a connected load exceeding 30 kW will have to install at least 5% of their connected load on Solar rooftop systems. And those who will fail to abide by the aforementioned laws will have to pay fine between 10,000 and 10 lac. So, what is keeping you waiting still? Go ahead and Go Solar. For any queries related to solar rooftops visit www.itsmysun.com or Dial 9818507770. Image Source