Chandigarh plans 75 MW solar power generation by August 2023

The Chandigarh administration has set a target of 75 MW solar power generation by 15 August 2023, undeterred by the Covid-19 pandemic, which spoiled its earlier plans. The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology (CREST) promotion society and the UT administration submitted the proposal to the centre under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign. UT secretary environment and CEO of CREST, Debendra Dalai, told the media that it has already started generating 45 MW of solar power from different projects. It aims at generating another 30 MW, including residential and governmental projects. Recently, the administration asked about the progress in the city's solar project installation and a roadmap for future solar plant installations from CREST. In a meeting between the administration and department officials, UT asked CREST to provide the details of the project, including the progress details, in the pipeline of those completed. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has increased the solar power generation target of the city from 50 MW to 69 MW by 2022. UT's plea for implementing the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model for the installation of solar plants in the city was turned down by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). CREST inspired JERC to implement the RESCO model in the city. CREST proposed this model after approval from the UT administrator, V P Singh Badnore. Under the RESCO, UT planned that the private companies would install solar plants on private properties, and in exchange, charge the owner of the building a lower tariff than the regular electricity rate for the time mentioned in the tender, after which the building owner will get the solar plant. Image Source Also read: TPREL launches 100 MW solar power project in Gujarat Also read: MNRE issues EoI from consultants to assess solar projects and parks