Site Survey

What is a site survey

A site survey is the systematic on-site assessment of a proposed solar installation location. It evaluates roof or ground area, structural capacity, shading patterns, electrical infrastructure, sanctioned load, accessibility, regulatory feasibility and customer requirements. For complex commercial or ground-mount projects, EPCs often bring in professional site survey and land feasibility services to validate technical viability before a contract is signed. The survey produces a feasibility report that forms the basis for system design, quotation and DISCOM application.

For Indian solar installations, the site survey is the critical first step in any project. PM Surya Ghar residential applications, C&I rooftop tenders and utility-scale plant development all begin with a site survey. Survey quality directly affects project economics, regulatory compliance and customer satisfaction.

Why site surveys matter

Accurate design. Without measured data, design assumptions are guesses.

Cost estimation. Material quantities depend on actual dimensions and roof types.

Risk identification. Structural, electrical and shading risks emerge during survey.

DISCOM application. Net metering application requires site-specific data.

Customer expectation setting. Honest survey prevents overpromise on yield.

Compliance verification. CEIG and DISCOM rules vary by site type.

Site survey components

Technical deep dive

Residential rooftop survey checklist

1. Verify ownership and society NOC.
2. Measure usable roof area.
3. Photograph all four orientations and the centre.
4. Identify shading from sun path 9 am to 4 pm.
5. Check roof material and age.
6. Inspect mains electrical panel.
7. Record sanctioned load from bill.
8. Locate suitable inverter wall (shaded, ventilated).
9. Plan AC cable route to mains panel.
10. Identify earth pit location.

Drone survey (large rooftops and ground-mount)

For large or complex sites, many EPCs supplement the manual walkthrough with a satellite roof measurement pass or a dedicated 3D pre-design site modeling service that combines drone capture with CAD-ready outputs.

Structural load check

Roof load assessment for residential RCC:

• Panel + structure weight (dead load): 12 to 15 kg/m², about 0.12 to 0.15 kN/m²
• Design wind pressure (illustrative, from IS 875 Part 3 for the site’s wind zone and height): 1.2 to 1.5 kN/m², about 122 to 153 kg-force/m² (1 kN/m² ≈ 102 kg-force/m²)
• Wind acts mainly as uplift, so it is checked against the structure’s anchoring and ballast, not added to the dead load

Typical RCC residential roofs comfortably handle this. Old houses, metal sheet roofs and asbestos roofs need structural engineering review.

Electrical infrastructure check

Real-world applications

Residential PM Surya Ghar pre-application.

C&I rooftop tender pre-bid survey, typically conducted by the turnkey EPC contractor.

Utility-scale solar park site selection.

Carport solar feasibility.

Floating solar reservoir assessment.

PM-KUSUM agri solar pump survey.

Common site survey problems

Inadequate shading documentation leading to underperformance.

Missing structural review on metal sheet or old RCC roofs.

Underestimated cable routing distance.

Ignoring future obstructions (planned construction nearby).

Skipping CEIG-relevant safety distances.

Missing tenancy or society NOC documentation.

Best practices

Use standardised survey checklists.

Photograph every relevant feature.

Capture GPS coordinates for accurate sun-path modelling.

Conduct shading observation at 2 to 3 hour intervals if possible.

Verify electrical bill and sanctioned load.

Document customer requirements explicitly.

Provide a written feasibility report.

Use drone surveys for large or complex sites.

Comparison: residential vs C&I vs utility surveys

Indian market context

PM Surya Ghar workflow includes installer site survey before DISCOM approval.

C&I rooftop tenders include site survey for capacity confirmation.

SECI utility tenders require detailed bankable feasibility including geotechnical, hydrological and resource assessment.

Drone surveys are increasingly common for C&I rooftops and ground-mount plants.

State agencies under PM-KUSUM conduct site surveys for agricultural solar.

Standards and certifications

Common mistakes

Skipping winter shading observation.

Ignoring society NOC requirements.

Underestimating cable route.

Missing future construction risk.

Not photographing existing earthing.

Skipping structural review on metal sheet roofs.

Key takeaways

Site survey is the foundation of any solar installation. It evaluates roof or land area, shading, structural capacity, electrical infrastructure and regulatory feasibility. Indian residential surveys take 1 to 4 hours; C&I 4 to 8 hours; utility 1 to 5 days. Quality of survey directly determines design accuracy, cost predictability and customer satisfaction.

Need professional site survey for solar?

Qbits’ public material does not describe a standard site-survey service, its coverage area, deliverables or fee. Contact Qbits to ask whether a survey is available for the project location and to get its scope, responsible party, price and deliverables in writing. Otherwise, appoint a qualified project designer or installer.

Further reading

For how Site Survey plays out in real projects, these guides go deeper:

• Scanifly Review 2026: Drone Site Survey Software, Honestly Assessed
• How Long Does Solar Installation Take in India?
• Solar Ladder Review 2026: India Solar CRM and Ops, Assessed
• Solar Installation Kahan se Karaye: Dealer Chunne ki Poori Guide (2026)

Sources

• MNRE Design Guidelines for Solar PV Plants.
• IEC 61724-1, Performance monitoring.
• IS 875, Wind load on structures.
• BIS structural codes.
• PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana operational guidelines.
• State CEIG procedures and drawings checklists.
• PVsyst documentation on site assessment.
• Drone industry guidelines for solar survey.
• IEA PVPS Task 13 publications.