Store-on grid scheme model for grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems for industrial sector application: Benefits analysis

Abstract

Abstract The benefits analysis of the store-on grid (SoG) scheme, an energy business model for fostering rooftop solar photovoltaic technology in developing countries, is proposed in this paper. An expression for evaluating the feed-in grid rate for the solar energy fed to the grid under the SoG scheme is presented. The results of the SoG scheme were compared with those of the time of use (ToU) scheme for the case of the industrial sector in Uganda. Under the SoG model, the prosumer would feed-in the solar energy to the grid at 16.28¢/kWh after tax, while the utility would sellback energy to the prosumer at 17.03¢/kWh. Of the solar energy fed to the grid, the prosumer would annually profit $ 389.46, while the utility would annually profit $ 304.27 under the SoG scheme model and $ 170.39 under the ToU scheme. These results show that both the prosumer and utility record more profits by adopting the SoG scheme than the ToU scheme. Also, the government would collect about 4.21 ¢/kWh in tax from the solar PV energy fed to the grid under the SoG scheme. Thus, the adoption of the SoG scheme would increase the government’s revenue from the energy sector.