Indore forced to drop solar plants from VCS programme

Indore Smart City Development Ltd (ISCDL) would no longer be able to earn carbon credits through solar power plant projects under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) programme, as solar projects have been excluded from registration under the programme on grounds that they become self-sustaining over a period of time. This has obliged ISCDL officials to drop their plan of registering solar power plants operating in the city under VCS programme - a global programme and standard for certification and registration of projects that focus on reduction and removal of greenhouse emission gasses, including carbon dioxide. Officials said that solar power projects cannot be listed under the VCS programme. “People can start generating profit out of a solar power plant after a certain period of time by selling electricity produced through the plant and this makes the project ‘self-sustainable’. This is why it has been excluded by the VCS Board from the list of projects that can be registered,” an official said. ISCDL chief executive officer Rishav Gupta said that they had already registered several of the solar power plants under the programme way before this change was introduced, and it will continue to help them generate revenue. “We have already registered around 10 projects under the programme and generated Rs 90 million so far,” said Gupta, while adding that efforts to identify other projects that can be listed under the programme are on. There are around 3,700 solar power plants, including individual ones, operational in Indore. See also: Solar open access in Assam growing quicklySuzlon bags energy project from Green Infra Wind Energy