NDMC OKs solar policy for power gen in its areas

New Delhi: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Thursday approved a new solar policy in a bid to develop grid-connected solar plants for meeting its own electricity needs, and transition to 100 per cent green resources for power generation in future. The policy seeks to use the existing roof space of buildings and other open areas for solar systems to harness the potential for generating solar power, NDMC officials said.

In a meeting held on Thursday, members of the NDMC - Satish Upadhyay, Vishakha Sailani, Kuljeet Singh Chahal, and Girish Sachdeva passed a censure motion against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his “failure” to control floods in New Delhi and over non-availability of drinking water for 4-5 days in the NDMC areas, the council’s vice chairman Satish Upadhyay said. The council approved 16 proposals out of 17 in the agenda items related to citizens and employees placed before it, he said.

“NDMC has embarked upon an ambitious journey of shifting to 100 per cent renewable energy. NDMC shall promote the development of grid-connected solar plants for meeting own electricity needs and injecting surplus electricity into the distribution grid through grid-connectivity must comply,” Upadhyay said in a press conference. The feed-in tariff for the power generated from solar power plants will be decided by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), he said.

A net metering facility will be set up for the consumers of NDMC who intend to encourage solar energy and set up solar photovoltaic, or PV, plants, NDMC said in a statement.

“Individual households, offices, commercial establishments, institutions, residential complexes etc will be eligible for project capacity of minimum 1 KW or more,” it said. The maximum capacity of such a system will not be more than the sanctioned connected load in case the consumer applies under the net metering framework.

“However, if a consumer wants to install such a Solar PV system more than the sanctioned load, the consumer shall get the enhanced load sanctioned & bear all expenses related with laying of suitable size cable and associated infrastructure necessary for such enhanced load,” the civic body said. The policy aims to utilise the building roof space and other such open areas to set up solar systems and reduce the dependence on conventional sources of energy, it said. Upadhyay said the NDMC, with its Solar Policy 2022, is taking a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future, “aligning with global efforts to combat climate change and promote renewable energy adoption.”