Apartment & Housing Society Solar in Chennai and Tamil Nadu

What common-area solar actually powers

In a typical Chennai gated community the association meter carries two or three lifts, a borewell and hydro-pneumatic pump set, sewage treatment plant blowers, corridor and basement lighting, the clubhouse and the gate. Together these draw a steady daytime load, which makes them an almost perfect match for a rooftop array installed on the terrace and over open car parking.

Because generation and consumption happen at the same time and on the same meter, savings appear immediately in the association's next TANGEDCO bill, without waiting on export credits. A 30-flat block usually installs 10 kW to 20 kW; a 200-flat community with an STP often justifies 50 kW to 100 kW.

• Terrace, stilt roof and car-park canopy mounting options
• Zero disruption to individual flat meters
• Shade for parked vehicles as a side benefit

Ownership models: CAPEX versus RESCO

Under CAPEX the association funds the plant from the sinking fund or a one-time resident contribution and owns every unit generated from day one. Payback typically lands between four and six years and the asset then produces free power for two more decades. Under the RESCO or OPEX model, a renewable energy service company invests the capital, owns and maintains the plant, and the association signs a long-term power purchase agreement to buy generated units at a tariff fixed below the current grid rate.

RESCO suits associations that cannot get a capital resolution passed but can approve a monthly bill that is lower than today's. We help draft the roof-lease and PPA framework, escalation clause and the buy-out schedule so the association can take ownership later.

Approvals, metering and association paperwork

The common-area service connection is what gets solarised, so the net-metering application is filed in the association's name against that service number. We prepare the general body resolution draft, the roof-usage undertaking, the single-line diagram and the TANGEDCO feasibility file. Where the state permits group or virtual net metering, surplus generation can be apportioned across designated service connections - we assess whether your community qualifies before proposing it.

Structural safety matters in tall blocks: we carry out a terrace load and wind assessment, use ballasted or chemically anchored foundations that preserve waterproofing, and keep walkways, water tanks and lift machine rooms fully accessible.

Individual flats, EV charging and monitoring

Individual flat owners with an exclusive terrace right can install their own small system under PM Surya Ghar, and we handle those alongside the association plant. Many communities also pair solar with EV charging points so daytime charging draws from the array rather than the grid. Each installation includes a monitoring dashboard the managing committee can open on a phone, plus a monthly generation report suitable for circulating to residents at the AGM.