Community solar subscription-offsite model is a RESCO-based shared solar model where the systems are located outside the residential building premises. This model is suitable for those consumers who do not have a rooftop ownership or have access to exclusive roof spaces.
Benefits to discoms
  1. Discoms could have an additional revenue stream with the collection fee charged for billing and payment collection.
Benefits to consumers
  1. Consumers living in apartments or with no suitable shadow-free roofs can avail the benefits of solar energy.
  2. Those consumers who cannot afford to pay the upfront cost can subscribe to the system on a monthly basis and get the subsequent benefits.
  3. Aggregated procurement by the discom can ensure better quality of installation
Benefits to developers
  1. Payment collection by the discom reduces the payment default risk for the developers.
  2. Developers can gain access to communities that are interested in solar rooftop systems and are able to install relatively larger systems compared to individual residential systems, thus reducing customer acquisition and other transactional costs.
Source : Implemented in various places
  • Target Consumer Segment
    Consumers without roof access or suitable roof area for system installation
  • Location
    Suitable spaces around the community such as schools, libraries, and public buildings
  • Asset Ownership
    Third-party
  • Metering Arrangement
    Virtual net-metering
  • Role of Discom
    Aggregated procurement, payment collection
  • Level of involvement by utility
    Medium
  • Need for partnerships
    Medium
  • Revenue to DISCOM
    Medium
  • Skill Requirement
    Low
  • Risk to Utility
    Medium