After receiving tepid response to its solar panels installation scheme, the UT Administration is yet to initiate the process for installation of solar panels at the homes of residents who had applied under the scheme.
The Chandigarh Renewal Energy Science and Technology Society (CREST) is yet to float tenders for installation of solar panels and is in a quandary over selection procedure of vendors/bidders for the execution of the scheme.
Also, the wait for the residents to get solar panels installed at their homes is likely to get longer as the CREST would now approach Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for seeking directions in this regard.
The scheme was launched last year by CREST, the agency executing solar power projects in Chandigarh and the last
date to apply under this was specified as January 31, but
the date was extended due to poor response from the residents.
Despite the subsidy of 30 per cent being provided by CREST on solar panels for first 100 applicants, about 60 applicants were received in more than nine months of time period.
As per UT’s scheme, those 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. The high investment cost and lack of awareness among the denizens are seen as major factors for the failure of the UT’s initiative.
When contacted, Santosh Kumar, Director CREST said that we are yet to float tenders for installation of solar panels at homes of applicants. The CREST is yet to decide the criteria of finalizing the bidders for the installation process.
He said, “We have not decided whether to allow one or more than one vendor for the installation of solar panels in Chandigarh. The Department will soon approach JERC to seek directions on the issue.”
Earlier, we had approached the UT Electricity Department seeking suggestions in this regard but nothing could be finalised, he added.
Meanwhile, even as the “model solar city” project of Chandigarh has gained momentum in the past one year, the initiative of tapping solar energy at homes
has failed to attract the city residents.
The schemes launched by CREST for installation of solar panels and solar water heating system in residential areas is yet to get popular among the residents.
The master plan to make Chandigarh a solar city, which has been approved by the Centre, targets to reduce the present energy consumption in residential sectors by 15 per cent till 2015 and 20 per cent by the year 2018.
Every year, there is an increase of 20–30 per cent in energy requirement in the residential sectors and 10-15 percent in commercial sectors of Chandigarh. This has led to a situation where there are both, energy as well as peak deficits in the city, stated the master plan report.