Delhi Vidhan Sabha Achieves Net Zero With 500 kW Solar

15 May 2026 CW Team

The project addressed operational challenges such as tree shading, ageing infrastructure and damage caused by animals, and involved the installation of approximately 850 solar panels on a 14-foot elevated mounting structure designed to overcome shading constraints and optimise rooftop utilisation. The design incorporated SolarEdge power optimisers to reduce generation losses from partial shading by enabling individual panel-level optimisation rather than reliance on conventional string-level performance. Project planners noted that most agencies had earlier estimated the rooftop could support only 300–350 kW under conventional mounting configurations, and the new approach increased usable capacity without extensive roof interventions.

One engineering constraint was the need to preserve the heritage roof structure of the building originally constructed in 1912, which led the project team to develop a wall-anchored structural solution transferring load through masonry walls rather than the roof slab and enabling certification for 180 km/h wind load under STAAD Pro analysis. The installation stretches across a rooftop gallery of nearly 1.5 km and involved more than 100 personnel across structural, electrical and logistics operations. The project was inaugurated on 3 August 2025 by senior officials and legislators, marking a milestone in institutional sustainability measures.

The system has generated over 558,000 units of electricity up to May 2026, yielding estimated savings of more than Rs 4.4 mn for the exchequer, and is expected to inform similar retrofits of government and institutional buildings where space and structural constraints require customised engineering solutions. The redevelopment is being cited as a case study in how elevated mounting, panel-level optimisation and careful structural design can increase generation potential on constrained heritage rooftops while keeping the architectural fabric intact.

The Delhi Vidhan Sabha has achieved net zero electricity status following the commissioning of a 500 kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar system on the historic assembly building. The redevelopment replaced an earlier 200 kilowatt (kW) installation that was generating less than 10 per cent of its rated capacity, and the work was completed within 90 days at a reported cost of Rs 29.4 million (mn). The upgrade has been presented as an example of institutional adoption of solar in the national capital and as an illustration of retrofitting older infrastructure to meet contemporary performance expectations. The project addressed operational challenges such as tree shading, ageing infrastructure and damage caused by animals, and involved the installation of approximately 850 solar panels on a 14-foot elevated mounting structure designed to overcome shading constraints and optimise rooftop utilisation. The design incorporated SolarEdge power optimisers to reduce generation losses from partial shading by enabling individual panel-level optimisation rather than reliance on conventional string-level performance. Project planners noted that most agencies had earlier estimated the rooftop could support only 300–350 kW under conventional mounting configurations, and the new approach increased usable capacity without extensive roof interventions. One engineering constraint was the need to preserve the heritage roof structure of the building originally constructed in 1912, which led the project team to develop a wall-anchored structural solution transferring load through masonry walls rather than the roof slab and enabling certification for 180 km/h wind load under STAAD Pro analysis. The installation stretches across a rooftop gallery of nearly 1.5 km and involved more than 100 personnel across structural, electrical and logistics operations. The project was inaugurated on 3 August 2025 by senior officials and legislators, marking a milestone in institutional sustainability measures. The system has generated over 558,000 units of electricity up to May 2026, yielding estimated savings of more than Rs 4.4 mn for the exchequer, and is expected to inform similar retrofits of government and institutional buildings where space and structural constraints require customised engineering solutions. The redevelopment is being cited as a case study in how elevated mounting, panel-level optimisation and careful structural design can increase generation potential on constrained heritage rooftops while keeping the architectural fabric intact.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..