Solar Energy : The best way for commercial requirement of Manipur

Dhanabir Singh Thokchom *

The power requirement for a small state like Manipur is very small if we compare it to other states of India. It can be met easily if government pays proper attention and planning in a systematic way by making a state policy in the Solar Energy sector as the countries like USA, Australia, Canada, China etc. have successfully done and achieved. Many business establishments have closed and many more are closing down soon due to serious power shortage in the state.

A commercial solar panel system can not only save business owners a substantial amount of money of the life of the system but can help save the Earth's precious resources as well.

A solar energy system mounted on the roof of a commercial business also sends a strong message to customers and clients that the business takes the responsibility for using renewable energy sources seriously.

Every day, the sun emits 15,000 times more energy than all of Earth's inhabitants need to power their homes and businesses. Photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems offer ways to capture and utilize that energy.

Photovoltaic, which translates as "light electricity," is still relatively new. French physicist Edmond Becquerel was the first to discover that sunlight was capable of generating an electric current in 1839. A century later, scientists finally understood that PV generation occurred at the atomic level.

Modern PV solar cells use the sun's energy to loosen electrons from their atoms and convert them into electricity. Solar cells are assembled into panels that are connected together. An inverter converts the DC electricity that the cells produce into the AC current that homes and business use.

Business owners can purchase a PV system outright, enjoying significant discounts from incentive programs if government provides the same as per the policy of the central government. The government incentive program alone covers the majority of the installations costs. Many states offer rebate systems that are almost as generous. Combined, tax incentives and rebate programs can reduce installation costs by as much as 60 percent or more.

In many areas, business owners can save further by taking advantage of net-metering systems. In any given day, there may be times when even a small PV system generates more electricity than the building is using. If a business is connected to a net-metering system, any excess electricity is sent back into the electrical grid.

Depending on the area, business owners can be repaid for that electricity in several ways. They may be credited for the electricity on their electric bill or may be issued rebate checks.

A solar contractor is the best source for determining your commercial solar needs. Generally, an energy audit is the first step. The solar provider checks to see if the building's roof can hold the weight of the panels and has the right orientation to the sun.

Today, PV systems last 25 to 30 years and typically pay for themselves in about ten years.

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