Chandigarh: Wait for free rooftop solar power plants to get longer

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Chandigarh, February 29

The project to install free rooftop solar power plants in the city is likely to get delayed as the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has directed the UT Administration to put the process on hold till new guidelines are framed.

The ministry had decided to frame new guidelines for installation of rooftop solar power plants under the Renewable Energy Services Company (RESCO) model and new installations could be carried out only after the issuance of the new guidelines, said an official.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently announced the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for installing rooftop solar plants enabling free electricity up to 300 units every month each for one crore households.

The official said the guidelines were being prepared to link the RESCO model with the scheme.

Meanwhile, the UT Department of Science and Technology has invited bids for the installation of 50 MWp grid-connected rooftop solar systems under the RESCO model on a BOT basis at residential houses in the city.

The official said they were expected that the guidelines could be issued within a week or 10 days. The tender was floated so that work did not get delayed. He further stated that the four companies that had been empanelled for installation of the grid-connected rooftop solar power plants of capacity ranging from 1kWp to 500kWp had been asked to submit fresh bids as new guidelines were to be framed.

The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) had in January granted approval to the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) for the installation of grid-connected rooftop solar plants in the city for domestic consumers by a third party under the build, operate and transfer (BOT) model of RESCO.

The cost of installation will be recovered by the selected firm during the BOT period through the sale of electricity generated by these plants. CREST has received more than 1,200 applications for installation of plants. Under the RESCO model, house owners will get electricity at a consistent rate of Rs 3.23 per unit during the BOT period.

Once the BOT period concludes, the ownership of the solar plant will get transferred to the consumer at no additional cost. Under the new model, the house owner will have to provide nearly 500 sq ft of space for a 5kWp solar plant.

50 MWp target to be achieved in 2 years

The UT Administration has now set a target to generate an additional 50 MWp (megawatt peak) solar power in the city within two years with installation of rooftop solar power plants.