Delhi Government approves first Solar Policy

June 7, 2016

The Delhi government has approved the first Solar Policy which aims at making the Capital an environment-friendly solar city.
It was approved by Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as it is part of one of Government’s 70-point agendas.
The policy has been prepared by the Government of Delhi in consultation with the Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) after extensive consultations with local and international experts.
Key features of Policy

Recommends the installation of 1 GW (1,000 Mega Watts) solar power capacity in Delhi by 2020, which is proposed to be doubled to 2 GW by 2025.
Outlines a combination of regulations, mandates, incentives, and tax breaks for the growth of rooftop solar power in the Capital.
Supports all models of ownership and maintenance of solar plants, including third-party-owned, self-owned models.
Mandatory deployment of solar panels on the government or public institutions.
Allows generation based incentive for 3 years and amendment of the building bylaws for rooftop solar installations.
Allows concept of virtual net metering in order to give access to the solar net metering facility to the consumers who do not have a suitable roof for installing a solar system.
It also allows group net metering to encourage solar plants on rooftops of buildings that cannot consume all of the energy generated locally.
Power department’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Management Centre (EE&REM) will be nodal agency responsible for effective implementation of this policy.

Comment
The policy seeks to lower state’s expenditure on energy by providing clean and green energy. It also seeks to strengthen its energy security and reduces its reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels. It also seeks to reduce the burden on the existing distribution and transmission system to lower expenditure on their maintenance

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