Chandigarh: As another step towards achieving the status of Model Solar City after bagging the status of a smart city the union territory of Chandigarh has mandated installation of Solar Photo Voltaic Power Plants on the residential and non residential buildings above 500 sq yards. The scheme covers the private educational institutions, schools, colleges, hostels, technical/ vocational educational institutions having connected load of 30 kw and above.
Mandated with an objective to promote green power in the modern city, the administration has made it compulsory that all buildings being constructed or reconstructed on the given plot sizes will necessarily install SPVs while the existing ones will also have to install the panels within a specified period of two years from the date of notification.
The union territory doesn’t have its own power generation facility and depends upon neighbouring states for supply of power. Since land too is scarce in Chandigarh, the administration has considered rooftop generation as a green initiative. The Government of India has offered an initial financial support upto maximum of Rs.9.5 crore for developing Chandigarh as a model solar City based on the master plan.
The qualifying residents will be offered 30 percent central financial assistance for SPV projects while the government has also identified the vendors. The government aims at achieving a target of 10 MW power generation from this facility.
Solar power is widely accepted as the most eco friendly source of Power generation and to promote it the consumers are being made partners of generation as well as consumption. By becoming generator the consumer will not only meet his own electricity requirements leading to reduction in his electricity bills but also earn revenue by feeding surplus power to the grid.
The union Ministry of New and Renewal Energy had selected Chandigarh to be developed as a Model Solar City through Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST).
Under the Solar net-metering Regulation made Net metering is the process through which one can attain a “dual-benefit “by installing a solar power plant on the roof, open space, walls of the building to generate electricity. Generated power is first used in the building as per the requirement and the surplus power is fed to the grid of utility.
A bi-directional meter is installed in the supply line to register import and export of power. Net metering arrangements, thus, combine elements of captive power consumption and exchange of power with the utility.
Under Net Metering Policy, all consumers of electricity having minimum sanctioned load of 1.25KW and maximum of 12.50 MW who intend to generate their own electricity and desire to contribute towards environmental protection can install Solar PV plants on Roof-Tops/ Walls/Open area of Individual Households, Industries, Commercial Establishments, Institutions, Residential Complexes, Schools, Colleges, Hospitals, Sheds, Cold Stores, Government and Semi-Government Buildings, etc.
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