Renewable energy sources such as solar power allow people to save a lot of energy consumption and consume carbon-free and environment-friendly energy. In the present times, people are adopting more renewable energy because of the same reason. India has an abundance of sunlight and is a leading generator of renewable energy. However, most of us live in cities in apartments, and we cannot add solar panels to our roofs. But with SundayGrids, you can benefit from solar energy even if you live in apartments in a city let’s understand how.
What is SundayGrids?
SundayGrids is a community solar company that focuses on promoting wider access to solar. Whether you are a tenant, resident in an apartment, or have an independent building, everyone all across India, regardless of the space available can opt into the community solar projects by SundayGrids to offset their power bills.
Through SundayGrids, users can reserve digital solar; a part of the solar plant, available for subscription online. Users get power dividends, or credits, from the solar power generated from their reserved digital solar capacity which can be used to offset their electricity bills through the SundayGrids application. Digital Solar is a new way of going solar that helps reduce carbon emissions and increases the clean energy in our power mix without the hassle of installing and maintaining solar panels.
How does SundayGrids work?
Unlike regular solar panels that need to be installed on the roof of your houses, SundayGrids allows you (Users) to reserve from community solar projects across India, from where you can receive credits that can be transferred to your SundayGrids account. To generate these credits, the company installs solar panels on the premises of commercial properties (Hosts), and you can reserve your share based on your electricity bill or even a portion of it. The commercial properties pay SundayGrids for generating solar energy, which is transferred to your SundayGrids account as daily credits.
These credits work like vouchers that can be used while paying your electricity bill for more than 70 power utilities in India.
Features of SundayGrids
- Go solar instantly, the entire process of reserving takes about a minute
- Switch or add multiple electric utilities,
- No space for installation or maintenance hassle for users.
- In addition, you can monitor your daily credits, which can be used to pay your electricity bill.
Projects on SundayGrids
Solar projects hosted on SundayGrids open for reservation is as below :
Helios 140 is the flagship project of SundayGrids. This project is set up on the roof of “One Lodha Place” which is a platinum-rated green building and is the largest office complex powered entirely by renewable energy in India.
How to Reserve the Capacity with SundayGrids?
Step 1- Select a Solar Project: You can select solar projects from anywhere across India which is listed on the platform. Digital solar allows you to get daily credits that reduce your electricity bills without the hassle of installing a solar panel on your rooftop.
Step 2- Reserve Solar Capacity: You can reserve the capacity from the selected project to reduce the burden of your entire electricity bill or even a portion, based on your monthly electricity bill. You can check credits in your SundayGrids dashboard which is generated daily.
Step 3- Link Credits to your Power Bill: You can select from the available power providers in the platform, add your power provider details to your SundayGrids account, and start using credits to save up on your electricity bills.
SundayGrids Founders
Mathew Samuel, Tarun Joseph, and Naseer Sathyala are the Co-founders of SundayGrids.
SundayGrids kickstarted in 2020, when founders Mathew Samuel, Tarun Joseph, and Naseer Sathyala who has prior worked in the solar industry but themselves resided in rental apartments in Bengaluru, began thinking about how despite the financial and societal benefits of solar, how difficult it is to install solar panels in constrained areas and what ways could help households save on utilities.
SundayGrids Alternatives
Currently, SundayGrids is the only platform that provides credits for the amount invested. However, some platforms are focused on providing returns from digital solar; they are:
- Pyse: It is an investment platform where people can invest in a fractionally owned solar power plant in Karnataka. The platform aims to promote investment in sustainable projects with a ticket size of as low as Rs. 50,000.
- Sustvest: It is an investment platform that allows investors to invest in fractional ownership of renewable energy projects that include solar or EV, with a ticket size of as low as Rs. 5,000.
Why is going Solar not working for many?
- Most individuals live in apartments and have no fixed rights to roof space.
- Living in rented apartments.
- The roof is not suitable for installing solar panels.
- Not willing to make a long-term commitment.
- Keen to retain the roof space empty.
How much is the reservation fee to cover a bill of Rs. 1,000?
- Cost Per KW: ~ Rs. 56000
- Price Per Unit – Rs. 5.6
- Monthly Credits – ~RS. 650
- Annual Credits – Rs. 7800
Pros of Digital Solar from SundayGrids:
- No Space Constraint: Digital Solar allows you to invest in solar energy without installing a solar panel on your roof.
- Credits for the Power Generated: SundayGrids provides you with credits for the power generated from its panels installed in commercial spaces, which can be used as vouchers while paying your electricity bill.
- Secure: Investing through SundayGrids is secure, and all the projects listed on SundayGrids are insured for protection from fire, theft, and other possible damages.
- Environment-Friendly: Solar power is a renewable energy source that saves a lot of energy consumption and consumes carbon-free and environment-friendly energy.
Cons of Digital Solar
Intermittency: One of the significant issues with using solar energy is that it is generated only when the sun is shining. India has an abundance of sunlight. However, in monsoons, the output may be affected, reducing the individual’s credit.
Conclusion
Startups like SundayGrids are making it possible to access solar power to urban Indians and boosting the use of solar energy, which aims to limit the usage of fossil fuels like coal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Sundaygrids
- What is Digital Solar?
It is a service that allows individuals and groups to reserve solar capacity in commercial solar projects to trade power for bill credits, enabling people to save up on their electricity bills.
- Do I need to be in the same location as the project to reserve my share?
No, you need not be in the same location as the project. The reservation can occur online if your local power provider is a serviceable utility for SundayGrids to reserve from the digital solar project.
- How much solar can I reserve?
You can reserve any fractional amount starting from as low as 1% equivalent of your electricity bill and can go up to 100%. You could book more to cover those bills if you have multiple connections.
- What is the validity of the credits?
Credits can be accumulated monthly in your SundayGrids account and used as a voucher to pay your bills at any time during the project’s tenure.
- Who owns the projects offered by SundayGrids?
All the projects listed on the platform are owned and managed by SundayGrids. When you receive a digital solar capacity from the forum, you receive a service agreement to generate and trade power on bill credits on your behalf from the reserved accommodation for the given period.
- What happens if the panels get damaged?
All the projects listed on SundayGrids are insured for protection from fire, theft, and other possible damages.
- Are my monthly credits constant?
The output of solar electricity depends on the sunlight an area receives. Hence the monthly credits are an annualized average of the credits generated. Therefore, monsoons may generate less credit, which can be higher in summer.
- What is the legal agreement between consumers and SundayGrids?
When a user is onboarded, SundayGrids shares a Digital Solar Service Agreement (DSSA), which states the validity of the reservation, credit assurance, and the terms to use the platform.
Are the estimated monthly credits in form of fixed income payout (as electricity bill voucher) ?
If it is electricity consumption linked credit then does cost saving modelling account for following:
The electricity rates would increase every year differently by every discom (distribution company) and govt subsidy may be variable and per unit rates differ depending on usage( residential or commercial) or time of day or differential unit pricing.
Hi,below is response as per my discussion with founder
Are the estimated monthly credits in form of fixed income payout (as electricity bill voucher) ?
– These credits are given in SundayGrids Wallet and are not fixed. It is subject to how much sunlight is received in that month. However, do our best to ensure that we deliver on what we promise by taking average value for our calculation instead of max value.
If it is electricity consumption linked credit then does cost saving modelling account for following:
The electricity rates would increase every year differently by every discom (distribution company) and govt subsidy may be variable and per unit rates differ depending on usage( residential or commercial) or time of day or differential unit pricing.
– The cost saving doesn’t count for tariff increase by the DISCOM, govt subsidy or differential rates. In future, we hope to add incremental tariffs so that every year there is an increase in credits to fight inflation.
Have you invested in this ?
yes, only small amount to offset electricity bill
Hey, Have you invested in Sundaygrids?? Your views.
Also, have you invested again/increased capital on Cashify and lendpartnerz after receiving first payout?? Also, are these platforms having pretax deals
Hi sundaygrid I did a small investment. The platform is only meant to offset electricity bill hence no point putting large capital unless you want to offset bill of other family members too!
Sir,
Plz reply for other platform also which
i asked above.
I am again writing it. Have you invested again/increased capital on Cashify and lendpartnerz after receiving first payout?? Also, are these platforms having pretax deals
HI I have never invested in cashify. I have got repayment from lendpartnerz and reinvested in new deal
I will explore cashify and then decide