Rooftop solar panels on govt buildings from November
PATNA: The state has selected an agency to install solar panels on the rooftops of government buildings from November this year.
Under the grid connected rooftop scheme, the Centre and state equally share the burden of subsidy for installing rooftop solar panels by individual households, organizations and government buildings. Bihar Renewable Energy Agency (BREDA) is the nodal agency for implementing the project in the state.
“The selection procedure for hiring an agency to undertake the installation work in government offices has been completed. We hope the work will start next month,”said a BREDA official familiar with the project. “We had received applications from offices under state government with a combined demand of 40MW of power through installing rooftop solar panels on government offices,” he said.
Under the scheme, the individual households would get half the cost as subsidy to be equally shared by the Centre and the state. A total Rs75,000 is required for installing 1kW capacity rooftop solar panel by an individual.
Government buildings and social sector organizations are entitled to a subsidy of 25% of the cost incurred on the project. While commercial or industrial units would not be entitled for any subsidy.
Ashwini Ashok, solar power analyst at Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED), said, “Patna can generate around 300MW solar power by using roof space. The residential buildings account for 80% of the city’s solar potential. The installation of rooftop solar panels at hospitals and offices under state government can generate huge amount of power. It will also contribute towards greater reliance on greener energy sources rather than traditional coal-based electricity.”
Bihar government in May last year had approved the Bihar Policy for Promotion of New and Renewable Energy Sources 2017 to build a capacity to generate 2,969MW solar power, 244MW biofuel energy and 220MW hydel power in the state by 2022.
The official said the state government has already earmarked Rs241 crore for this project and the Centre would release funds after the project is sanctioned.
“After the rooftop solar panels installation on government buildings, which is likely to take four months, the power distribution companies will install two-way electricity meters for solar facilities in their areas concerned to connect them with the local grid,” the official said.
Grid connectivity will ensure that surplus solar power generated is fed to the power grid and the consumer can sell surplus solar power to the grid on current tariffs. He also said the two-way meter allows two-way flow of electricity — from distribution company to consumer and vice versa. The meter will supply unused power generated from rooftop solar panels to power distribution companies. It will also ensure that power from the distribution company is supplied to the consumer only if the daily quota of power generated by the rooftop plant is consumed.
“As far as the individual household is concern, we have received applications with a combined demand of 20MW power,” the official said.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
