The urban development and housing department (UDH) may introduce the provision of electricity generation by installing solar panels in housing projects under the proposed section of 90A of the Land Revenue Act.
In a step that will reduce frequent power cuts in the city, the UDH is mulling over installation of miniature solar plants in housing societies and apartments.
“We will try to accommodate the solar plants in housing projects and if needed will make certain changes in the building bylaws too. The decision will be taken after consultation with Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC) whether or not to subsidise the installation of panels. The modus operandi needs to be worked out and once it is finalized we will make the formal announcement” said a senior UDH official.
As per the provisions, each household or society that will generate solar electricity will be able to use it for personal consumption. The excess units generated will be bought by the discoms and transferred into the grid. In case of more consumption, the households will be charged accordingly.
To promote such initiatives at the state level, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is also in the process of finalizing the guidelines for setting up of solar panels and purchasing of generated electricity through these panels in individual houses and apartments.
“Till few months back the project envisaged by the UDH was not feasible, but after MNRE drafted rules for net metering and procedure for purchasing excess generated electricity, the project seems possible,” said M M Vijayvergia, director (technical), RREC.
To give a push to the UDH proposal, the Centre is providing a 30 percent subsidy in installing solar panels. Currently, the capital cost comes around Rs 2 lakh per kilo watt. However, experts believe that with more use of solar energy in the country and manufacturing of equipment, the cost can come down to Rs 1 lakh per kilo watt.
