Entrepreneurship, Employability and Workplace Practices: Documentation, Quotations, Schemes and Communication
This section covers entrepreneurship, employability and workplace practices: documentation, customer handling, costing and quotation basics, government scheme awareness, and communication. The exam tests whether you can run a small solar installation business professionally, not just wire an array.
Documentation and handover
Keep a site survey form, shading photos, single-line diagram, bill of materials, serial numbers, test results, warranty documents, net-metering forms and a customer handover sheet. Record change orders in writing. Good documentation reduces disputes and supports warranty claims.
Costing and quotation
A quotation should itemise modules, inverter, structure, DC/AC balance of system, cables, labour, transport, scaffolding, taxes and margin. GST rates and local levies must be shown. Distinguish gross price, subsidy and customer contribution. Do not quote from a phone call; survey first.
Schemes and customer handling
In India, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana supports residential rooftop solar with a subsidy capped at ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above; smaller systems get per-kW support. Punjab consumers also use discom net-metering. KUSUM supports solar pumps. Explain generation, savings and payback honestly, and never guarantee a subsidy before approval.
Worked example
A 5 kW system is quoted at ₹50,000/kW = ₹2,50,000. The residential subsidy is ₹78,000, so the customer pays ₹1,72,000. At 4.5 peak sun hours and 80% performance, annual generation = 5 × 4.5 × 365 × 0.8 = 6,570 kWh. At ₹8/kWh, savings are ₹52,560/year; simple payback = 172,000 ÷ 52,560 = 3.3 years. Show assumptions.
Traps
Quoting without a site survey; omitting GST, scaffolding or net-metering costs; overpromising generation; treating subsidy as guaranteed; failing to document customer changes; using technical jargon without explaining it.