Delhi to introduce new solar policy to set up 2.5 GW rooftop solar

The Delhi government proposed a new solar policy in 2022-23, with a goal of 2.5 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the next five years, according to the recent state budget announcement.

Rooftop solar could meet 10% of Delhi's annual energy demand once the goal is reached. In the rooftop solar segment, the new solar policy is expected to create 40,000 jobs for sales, construction workers, electricians, technicians, and engineers.

In addition, the government announced plans to launch 4,200 electric vehicles in the coming year, with a 33% reservation for female drivers.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the government will issue 5,000 e-autos per year for the next five years, resulting in the creation of 25,000 new jobs.

The Delhi government issued an EV policy in August 2020 to encourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the national capital. The percentage of electric vehicles in the state was 1.2% in 2019-20. According to Sisodia, as of February 2022, Delhi had become the first state in India to surpass 10% EV sales. In five years, the state's EV policy is expected to create 20,000 new jobs in EV sales, repair and maintenance, and EV charging station operation and maintenance.

The city of Delhi's electric vehicle policy aims to increase EV adoption, particularly among two-wheelers, public and shared vehicles, and goods carriers. It intends to accelerate the adoption of battery electric vehicles, to account for 25% of all new vehicle registrations by 2024. Financial incentives, tax breaks, fee waivers, the establishment of charging and swapping infrastructure, job creation, and a battery-cycling ecosystem are all proposed in the policy. The creation of a non-lapsable State EV Fund was proposed, to be funded by the air ambience fund, additional taxes, cess, and fees on inefficient or polluting vehicles, and air ambience fund.

To combat rising air pollution, the Government of India (GoI) issued a draft notification directing the Transport Department of the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi to increase EV adoption. The Department of Environment and Forests issued a draft notification stating that the transportation sector is the primary source of air pollution in Delhi, particularly PM2.5 emissions. In Delhi's air, vehicular emissions accounted for 80% of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxides.

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