Safety Concerns Loom Over State’s Solar Plan Approval

13 Sep 2024 CW Team

A circular issued indicates that CEIG will henceforth be the authority responsible for granting electrical safety approvals. Previously, safety approvals for solar rooftops were issued by ESCOM officials. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) had withdrawn the requirement for safety approval for smaller projects in 2016 to encourage rooftop solar installations. Apartment complexes have expressed concerns that this new statutory requirement will complicate the process and negatively affect the solar rooftop program.

Satish Mallya, Vice President of the Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF), remarked that until now, rooftop solar systems up to one MegaWatt capacity were exempt from obtaining safety approval. He noted that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had established guidelines to ensure safety for lower-capacity projects. Mallya expressed concern that CEIG’s safety approval process would be cumbersome and could hinder the rooftop solar program, as most residential complexes would now need to obtain this approval.

Experts have commented that while certain safety standards must be met for projects below one MegaWatt capacity, ESCOM engineers have adequately addressed these concerns thus far, and the system has functioned effectively.

Ramesh Shivanna, President of the Karnataka Renewable Energy Systems Manufacturers Association (KRESMA), explained that the new procedure for obtaining safety approval will involve a physical inspection of the project site and checks on solar panels, electric connections, and other aspects. He criticized the new requirement as making the process cumbersome for residential complexes, educational institutions, and MSMEs pursuing solar rooftops. Shivanna stated that KRESMA plans to appeal to CEIG to retract this requirement and that they will advocate for maintaining the current system managed by DISCOM engineers.

In Karnataka, all new solar rooftop projects, including residential ones, with a capacity exceeding 10 Kilowatts will now require safety approval from the Chief Electrical Inspector to the Government of the State (CEIG). A circular issued indicates that CEIG will henceforth be the authority responsible for granting electrical safety approvals. Previously, safety approvals for solar rooftops were issued by ESCOM officials. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) had withdrawn the requirement for safety approval for smaller projects in 2016 to encourage rooftop solar installations. Apartment complexes have expressed concerns that this new statutory requirement will complicate the process and negatively affect the solar rooftop program. Satish Mallya, Vice President of the Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF), remarked that until now, rooftop solar systems up to one MegaWatt capacity were exempt from obtaining safety approval. He noted that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had established guidelines to ensure safety for lower-capacity projects. Mallya expressed concern that CEIG’s safety approval process would be cumbersome and could hinder the rooftop solar program, as most residential complexes would now need to obtain this approval. Experts have commented that while certain safety standards must be met for projects below one MegaWatt capacity, ESCOM engineers have adequately addressed these concerns thus far, and the system has functioned effectively. Ramesh Shivanna, President of the Karnataka Renewable Energy Systems Manufacturers Association (KRESMA), explained that the new procedure for obtaining safety approval will involve a physical inspection of the project site and checks on solar panels, electric connections, and other aspects. He criticized the new requirement as making the process cumbersome for residential complexes, educational institutions, and MSMEs pursuing solar rooftops. Shivanna stated that KRESMA plans to appeal to CEIG to retract this requirement and that they will advocate for maintaining the current system managed by DISCOM engineers.

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