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Delhi Solar Policy

Delhi Solar Policy

An urgent increase in Renewable Energy is required in India to combat climate change, reduce air pollution and enhance energy security. The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) intends to rapidly develop decentralised renewable energy sources, especially solar and reduce its current dependence on unsustainable and centralised fossil fuel energy. 

Given Delhi’s land-locked position, the high cost and paucity of barren land within its borders, and low potential for wind or hydro power, Delhi must focus on rooftop solar as its primary source of renewable energy. Delhi is blessed with almost 300 sunny days and the rooftop space available for solar panels is estimated to be 31 sq. km, giving Delhi a solar energy potential of 2500 MWp (annual Generation approx. 3,500 million kWh). Of this potential, 26% is in the government/public sector, 25% in commercial/ industrial sector, and 49% in domestic sector. 

In 2014, the peak power demand in Delhi was almost 6000 MW and the total annual consumption in 2014-15 was 27,266 million kWh. Power demand can vary considerably across a 24-hour window, especially in summers owing to the increasing use of air conditioning. In general,  energy utilities (DISCOMS) pay more to meet short-term demand surges, raising the average cost of power. Delhi’s daily daytime peak demand curve broadly matches the generation curve of solar system, which can therefore help to reduce peak demands. Moreover, energy produced by rooftop solar systems is mostly consumed at, or near, the point of generation, minimizing transmission and distribution losses. Self-consumption of rooftop solar energy also reduces the need for, and the challenge of, provisioning new distribution infrastructure, such as transformers, in congested localities. 

In short, rooftop solar systems offer sustainable energy, environmental benefits, low gestation period, low transmission and distribution losses, reduced need for distribution infrastructure, and peak load offset that reduces costs for the DISCOMs and ultimately for the consumers as well. 

Market conditions are also more favourable for solar power than before While solar energy tariffs have, on average, fallen 6-8% per year since 1998 (solar panel prices have dropped 75% in the last six years, conventional energy tariffs in Delhi have risen by 6.9% per year on average since 2007 After years of innovation and declining prices, solar energy tariffs in Delhi have become cheaper than conventional energy tariffs for the government, commercial-industrial, and top end of domestic segment, and are expected to achieve parity in the low-medium domestic segment. Therefore input subsidies from the State of Delhi are not deemed necessary. However, a Generation-Based Incentive for a limited period seems prudent to promote adoption in the domestic segment. 

The Government of India (GoI) has set a target of, 100 GW (100000 MW) of solar energy generation in India by the year 2022, of which 40 GW (40000 MW) is from rooftops. Delhi is well-positioned to lead India’s rooftop solar revolution and has consequently established solar generation targets of 1GW (1000 MW) by 2020 (4.2% of energy consumed) and 2.0 GW (2000 MW) by 2025 (6.6% of energy consumed). To help achieve these targets, this document seeks to outline a robust and pragmatic Solar Energy Policy for Delhi. Alongside, GNCTD will raise consumer awareness of solar energy, promote capacity building, and generate healthy competition among solar developers, so that solar power is adopted on a mass scale and Delhi becomes the premier solar city in India.

The Delhi Solar Energy Policy, 2016 has the following ten broad objectives: 

i. Reduce Delhi’s reliance on conventional energy while increasing its energy security and lowering average energy prices in the long term. Promote rapid growth of rooftop solar power via a combination of generation targets, regulations, mandates and incentives. 

ii. Encourage market-based approaches and public-private partnerships to drive demand and adoption, with minimal use of State Government subsidies. Develop initiatives to raise public awareness of solar energy in Delhi. 

iii. Ensure fairness for all stakeholders in the solar ecosystem, including rooftop owners, DISCOMS, investors, consumers of non-solar power, technology and services providers. 

iv. Use regulatory mechanisms to drive demand and adoption, such as mandating solar plant deployments on government rooftops, requiring in-state solar RPO targets for DISCOMS, modifying building bylaws to facilitate solar plant deployment, specifying responsibilities for the inspection/certification of solar plants, aggregating demand for solar projects, and more. 

v. Promote net metering / gross metering and grid connectivity for all solar plants by simplifying and streamlining processes and methods. 

vi. Generate employment in the solar energy sector through skill development especially for youth. Establish core technical competence of professionals in the NCT of Delhi to initiate and sustain effective management of solar projects and infrastructure. 

vii. Provide Generation-Based Incentives for the domestic segment where solar power costs are yet to achieve parity for most users, as well as tax exemptions and waivers for all consumers. 

viii. Promote a robust investment climate that enables multiple financial models, from self-owned (CAPEX) to third-party owned (RESCO) models. Also facilitate access to loans at preferential interest rates through various schemes that may be introduced from time to time, whether through public or private channels. 

ix. Establish policy implementation, monitoring and compliance framework to make sure that efficient execution and periodic review of the policy takes place. 

x. Develop solar energy as part of an overall strategy of providing affordable, reliable, 24X7 Power to all citizens, incorporating demand-side management, energy conservation, energy efficiency initiatives, quality assurance and longevity of projects, distributed renewable energy generation, and smart grid development.

ROOFTOP SOLAR SUBSIDY (DBT SCHEME) BY MNRE NATIONAL PORTAL – STEP BY STEP PROCESS

Delhi DISCOMs Official Websites: 

BSES Rajdhani Power Limited – http://solarbses.com 

BSES Yamuna Power Limited – http://byplws.bsesdelhi.com:8078/

MES Delhi Cantt – Apply for Installation Insterest Request ( Discom’s Portal Under Process )

NEW DELHI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL – Apply for Installation Insterest Request ( Discom’s Portal Under Process )
Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited – https://www.tatapower-ddl.com/solar-rooftop/register

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