The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has directed the UT Administration to explore various prospects of tapping renewable energy in private sector and promote its utilisation among the private households.
Upendra Tripathy, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) during his visit to the city on Tuesday, has asked the UT Administration to give emphasis on promoting the solar power generation in private households of Chandigarh. As of now, more than 2 MWp SPV plants on about 30 different Government buildings have been installed in Chandigarh and another 3 MWp SPV power plant is under installation.
The Secretary has also informed the UT Administration about the possible withdrawal of 30 percent subsidy provided by them for installation of solar panels and has directed the Administration to expand the ambit of solar power generation and increase its utilisation mainly in private sector here.
At present, the UT Administration of Chandigarh offers 25 per cent subsidy for installation of solar panels in addition to the 30 per cent subsidy offered by the Central Government, making it 55 per cent. Notably, the MNRE has already withdrawn 30 percent capital subsidy provided for installation solar water heating systems for domestic, industrial and commercial sectors in the city.
Tripathy also reviewed the status of solar photovoltaic power plant projects in Chandigarh and directed the UT Administration to float the tenders for installation of solar panels at the homes of city residents.
The UT is yet to float tenders for the scheme under which residents who have inverter and battery system at their houses to deal with power cut, can just retrofit their existing system with solar panel and charge controller, and they can start using solar energy by spending about Rs25,000. A subsidy of 30 percent was provided by CREST on solar panels for first 100 applicants and about 60 applications were received from the residents.
“Appreciating the works carried out by the UT Administration in execution of solar power projects, the MNRE Secretary has directed us to promote the solar power utilization in private households in a big way,” said Santosh Kumar, Director, UT Science & Technology Department while talking to The Pioneer.
Earlier, the MNRE Secretary inaugurated 495 kWp rooftop grid interactive solar photovoltaic power plant at Government College for Girls, Sector-11 here on Tuesday.
Santosh Kumar informed that the 495 kWp rooftop SPV power plant has been installed by CREST (Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science & Technology Promotion Society) with 50 percent central financial assistance from MNRE. The total cost of the project is Rs501.19 lakh which include operation and maintenance charge for 10 years.
This power plant has 1980 numbers of 250Wp of solar modules and 26 numbers of string inverters (Refusol 496.5kVA) and would first meet the load of the college building during the day time and the surplus power will be exported to the Chandigarh Electricity Department.