The Version 1 (V1) (which can be accessed here) of the CSTEP’s Solar Techno-Economic Model for Photovoltaics (CSTEM PV) was built under the US-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R) for the Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS). This initiative was jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Government of India through the Department of Science and Technology. The objective of this Web-based platform was to serve as a useful tool for prefeasibility analysis of utility scale solar PV plants from a techno-economic standpoint.
The Version 2 (V2) of the model with enhancements, including mini grids, has been pursued under the funding support provided by the Good Energies foundation. Additionally, the work was supported by core grants provided by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Oak Foundation.
You may view an intro to the tool here!
The tool has the following utilities for different categories of users:
- Researchers: Understanding the spread and availability of solar energy across India, technology comparison, and impact of site parameters
- Industrialists: Determining site suitability for expanding green-energy portfolios and techno-economics of a prospective plant
- Policymakers: Analyse the impact of subsidies, viability of tariffs, setting benchmark tariffs, and quick insights for establishing large photovoltaic plants and mini-grids
