Weeks after Delhi’s solar policy was approved, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has gone back to review the same. Sources have informed The Hindu that the clause of installing solar panels in all government buildings is being revisited by the power department. While the policy makes it mandatory for all government buildings to install solar plants on their rooftops within a period of three years, it is the size of a rooftop which
is being intensely discussed.
A matter of size
The approved policy states that all government buildings with a minimum shadow-free rooftop area of 50 sqm must generate 5 kW or 15 per cent of the sanctioned load.
“Various departments have suggested that the minimum shadow-free rooftop area be increased as many believe that 50 sqm is too small a space for a solar plant to feed 15 per cent of the electricity consumption of the building,” said a senior official.
It is because of this that the policy is yet to be notified.
A different view
However, the power department, which prepared the final solar policy after the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi came up with its draft, opines that the clause must stay.
“A 50-sqm shadow-free space is enough to produce 4-5 kW of solar power. The minimum cap must not be increased because then a major chunk of government buildings will go out of the purview of mandatory installation of solar systems,” said an official.
Energy efficiency
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has tied up with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for another project wherein energy efficiency of all its buildings in the Capital is being audited.
“For the first phase of the project, we have identified around 50 buildings which will be audited by the BEE. These include the Delhi Secretariat, the Public Works Department office, Vikas Bhawan-II, Delhi Technological University, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology and a few hospitals,” the official added.
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