The RESCO programme for Solar Rooftop conducted by MP Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVN) has been conferred the highest honour of Platinum Award during the 54th SKOCH Summit on December 5 at New Delhi.

This national level awardwas conferred as recognition of the programme’s innovative design, which was instrumental in achieving historic lows in solar rooftop tariff in the country.

 The award was conferred after undergoing an elaborate 3 step process which saw participation from several states and public and private organizations across the country under the theme of ‘State of Power, Oil & Gas’.

The nomination applications received from across the country were first shortlisted to be presented on 28th November before the jury, which comprised of luminaries from industry and government.

The projects, selected post the jury presentation were awarded SKOCH Order of Merit.

Each project with Order of Merit then contested for top awards, viz, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. In this stage, each awardee of the SKOCH Order of Merit Award ranks all other projects; this, along with jury points, decides the top awards.

The award was received on behalf of the state by Manu Srivastava, Principal Secretary, New and Renewable Energy Department.

 The state-wide Solar Rooftop RESCO program with cumulative capacity of 43.5 MW, conducted by MPUVN recently in two phases saw the minimum tariff discovery of Rs 1.38 per unit.

RESCO model facilitates the beneficiary consumers to enjoy solar power with zero upfront investment and at rates much below the prevailing DISCOM rates.

The project is set up by a private entity who recovers its investment by sale of solar power to the beneficiary organization over a 25 year period. 

The selection of the Contractor is made on the basis of the lowest tariff offered in transparent electronic bidding.Out of the total target of 100 GW for solar capacity for the country, the target of Rooftop Solar installations is 40 GW.

Programmes such as MPUVN’s RESCO can potentially show the path to the nation on how to achieve this aim from the present accomplishment, which stands at a meagre 7 per cent of its target.

Government of India has shared the features of MP’s RESCO program with all the states. Manu Srivastava, Principal Secretary, New and Renewable Energy has visited Assam so as to replicate the program there.