Our Rooftop Solar Explorer (RTSE) is an advanced web-based tool that can help consumers to precisely evaluate their rooftop photovoltaic (RTPV) potential. The tool’s ability to make precise estimates comes from the use of high-resolution imagery, 3D modelling, and a robust methodology for calculation that accounts for potential shading from nearby trees, buildings, and other structures. This precision in estimating RTPV potential has made RTSE the preferred tool for several distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the country. It was first piloted in Bengaluru in 2021 and subsequently launched in 2023 in several cities in Madhya Pradesh, such as Bhopal, Jabalpur, Indore, and Gwalior. The tool has also been implemented in cities in Chhattisgarh such as Bilaspur, Korba, Durg, Raigad, and Raipur. The DISCOMs in these cities are using the tool to assess ward-wise solar rooftop potential. Plans are underway to reimagine the tool for implementation at a national level.
