Saturday, June 07, 2014: Under Gujarat’s rent-a-roof project locals can lease their rooftops to private solar energy companies who pay them a sum of Rs 3 for every unit of energy produced
Taking inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Gujarat model, more notably Gandhinagar’s rent-a-roof project, the Delhi government has sent three teams of top officials from the government, power distribution companies and experts to the state to study the feasibility of the same in the national capital. The Delhi government is clearly charmed by the success of the rent-a-roof project and aims to replicate the same in the state. If successful the same could deliver almost 50-100 MW of power.
Under Gujarat’s rent-a-roof project locals can lease their rooftops to private solar energy companies who pay them a sum of Rs 3 for every unit of energy produced. A similar approach is employed in the case of government buildings like schools and hospitals. On the direction of LG Najeeb Jung, a team headed by Delhi’s principal secretary (power) visited several solar power projects in Gujarat and also met with D J Pandeyan, additional chief secretary (energy). “Gujarat has done pioneering work in solar power generation. Therefore, a team has been sent to Gujarat to study solar power projects and see the possibility of taking up such power projects and promoting solar power in Delhi.” a statement issued by the LG’s office, Delhi government said.
Delhi’s attempt to realise its true solar rooftop potential is met with a number of challenges, the primary being a supposed lack of available space for solar PV, according to a report by Greenpeace India. However, the same report also mentions that of its 700 sq km of available land, 31sqkm is available roof space that has a potential to generate 2,557 MW through solar roof top projects.
