East civic body to generate solar power for use and sale

In a bid to go green, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) is soon going to produce its own electricity. The corporation has decided to install solar panels on all the major buildings owned by it, officials said. Apart from powering its own buildings, the civic body will also sell the surplus electricity to power discoms. The move will help cut down on pollution and save on electricity bills. As part of the project, the civic body aims to generate over 15 MW energy daily by installing solar panels on rooftops of around 20 of its buildings, including zonal offices, hospitals and clinics. “We have identified buildings with a daily electricity consumption of over 25 MW. Some of these are big buildings, such as the Swami Dayanand Hospital and Karawal Nagar Poly Clinic, among others,” said East corporation Commissioner Mohanjeet Singh.

The corporation is in talks with the Delhi government’s Department of Renewable Energy for the implementation of the plan. “We will sign a memorandum with the government,” he added. In addition, the corporation also plans to generate revenue through the initiative by giving the rooftop rights for advertisements. “We will lease out the spaces for advertisements. The companies pitching in will decide the amount of solar energy they will be able to produce. Also, we will be saving on hefty electricity bills by selling surplus power to the discoms,”Goel said. Echoing the sentiment, a senior official said: “The project will help curb pollution, as coal-based thermal generation will be restricted. Also, the EDMC will benefit by availing the achievement-linked incentive scheme, launched recently by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.”

Source:DNA