CSTEP has developed a tool to accurately assess the solar potential of rooftops in cities using light detection and ranging, or LiDAR. Named CSTEP's Rooftop Evaluation for Solar Tool (CREST), this tool identifies precise locations for installing rooftop photovoltaic (RTPV) systems on buildings. It also has the potential to aid the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) in achieving its target of 1.2 GW solar capacity by the end of 2022.
In terms of technical innovation, this exercise accounts for the shadows cast by neighbouring obstacles on individual rooftops while estimating the RTPV and the subsequent power generation potential. The tool will also be available as a web-based application for consumers to understand the feasibility of installing RTPV on their rooftops in terms of techno-economics. The tool’s output can be used to aggregate demand (>200 MW) for large-scale tenders, which will reduce costs of RTPV systems and the tariffs required to be paid by distribution companies.
To learn more about CREST, watch this video.
To watch CREST's online launch, click here.
