Bombay Presidency Radio Club gets solar PV rooftop system

For the past 20 days, the historic Bombay Presidency Radio Club, one of Mumbai’s oldest clubs, has turned to solar for some of their energy needs. The club has a 41 kW net-metered solar rooftop system installed by SolarTown Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (SolarTown). The radio club is estimated to save more than Rs 8, 50,000 annually from its new solar system. SolarTown, a company for residential, commercial and industrial customers, becomes first commercial establishment to commission a net-metered solar rooftop installation in Mumbai. Vikram Dileepan is the founder and CEO of the Solar Town. The radio club can sell its excess electricity back to the grid under Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) and further reduce its utility bill. There is no upfront cost but 25-year lease agreement has been signed with SolarTown at a rate that is 35 to 40 percent lower than their utility tariff. “This particular installation required a structure to be built to withstand wind speeds of 200 kmph during monsoons. SolarTown had to constructed highgrade solar structures with a special grade coating coupled with high quality weatherproofing to prevent corrosion,” stated the SolarTown’s spokesperson. As per the company, this will offset 20 percent of the Radio Club’s energy consumption from the grid and more than 1,189 tons of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the solar installation.