Higher subsidy will boost rooftop solar in TS

Hyderabad: To give a big push for rooftop solar panel installations, the Central government has increased subsidy from the current 30 per cent to 40 per cent, a move which will be boost rooftop solar capacity in Telangana, says N Janaiah, VC & MD, TSREDCO. According to him, Telangana has a commissioned capacity of 60 MW of roodtop solar, with 40 MW in pipeline.

“At the time of Telangana formation, the new State was home to just 2 MW of rooftop solar energy, which has now reached 60 MW and by the end of May 2019, we will be adding 40 MW from installations that are underway at RTC and government buildings,” Janaiah, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited (TSREDCO), told the media here on the sidelines of an event.

Explaining about the State’s solar energy contribution towards the renewable energy sector, he said that Telangana has so far commissioned 3,500 MW of solar energy and within the next six to 8 months, another 1,000 MW will be commissioned. The states’ nodal agency for implementing renewable energy related projects is aiming at five GW of renewable energy capacity in Telangana by 2024.

The first State to adopt the distributed solar policy, Telangana with a strong 300 sunshine days, has the potential to increase its solar power capacity, the official said, adding, “the 40 per cent subsidy on rooftop solarwill further bring down the costof solar panel installation. The cost of panel and solar installation for 1KV which was earlier at Rs 56,000 has come down to nearly Rs 46,000, on which the 40 per cent subsidy will be offered.”

He further said that the State government is looking to mandate installation of rooftop solar in other districts on the lines of Karimnagar. “The Karimnagar municipality has mandated implementation of solar panel on rooftops. Otherwise buildings will not be given occupancy certificate.

We are looking at extending the same to other district headquarters of Telangana for which ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) of 2017 will be amended,” he said. The Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) has made it mandatory for all buildings larger than 2,800 sft, whether commercial, houses, apartment complexes or community halls, to install solar panels on rooftops.

Karimnagar is the first municipal corporation in Telangana to make solar on new buildings mandatory and the move comes as part of India’s Smart City Mission, which directs 10 per cent of electricity be generated by solar. This rule came into effect on March 1, 2109, and applies to older structures as well, according to a resolution passed by the town’s municipal body.

Source: thehansindia