Viability of Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems in Grouphousing Schemes

With conventional energy sources being limited in their availability, the search for alternative renewable energy sources is inevitable. Solar energy, an inexhaustible renewable energy is considered a vital source for a developing country like India, where there is a major deficit between the demand and supply of electricity. Crowded urban structures have all the updated electrical appliances, but there is a deficit power supply during peak hour demand. In a tropical country like India, airconditioning for cooling has become the norm during daytime due to IT facilities and allied support services. The Sun shines for 8-9 h during daytime, which coincide with the time of peak energy demand. The crowded rooftop of cities can be converted to solar electricity generators through rooftop photovoltaic systems. We have done a field study of the energy consumption of post-occupancy medium-rise (G + 4) group housing and high-rise (G + 10) group housing schemes in two different cities in India. The feasibility study for solar photovoltaic systems, along with the scrutiny of various schemes that are available to the building owners are discussed for postoccupancy owners as well as yet-to-be owners of such group development schemes.