A few takers for rooftop panels in model solar city

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 21

Though Chandigarh has been declared a model solar city, its residents are not showing much interest in offering rooftop of their houses for installation of solar energy panels.

According to sources, certain private players have launched some ‘lucrative’ schemes to attract house owners towards installing solar panels on the rooftop of their houses. They offer to set up solar power panels free of cost and provide a share in the amount received by selling the solar energy generated by the panels.

“Still the response is not encouraging,” claimed Ramandeep Singh, director of Synergy Solar Pvt Ltd, a Mohali-based company.

Ramandeep added that his company launched a scheme for Chandigarh residents, under which they would install solar panels, according to the area of the roof available, free of cost. “We would sell the electricity produced to the Administration and forward Re 1 per unit to the owner of the house or institute. After 25 years, the solar panel would become the house owner’s property,” said Ramandeep, adding that his company has got nearly 10 bookings so far.

It is learnt that life of a solar panel was about 50 years and its energy generating capacity decreases by about 20 per cent over 25 years.

According to experts, a solar panel of one kilowatt (kW) capacity can generate 1,500 units of electricity per year on an average. The UT purchases solar power at the rate of Rs 8.50 per unit.

In a 10 marla house, a solar panel of 5 kW can be installed, which can generate 7,500 units of electricity per year. The cost of a solar panel of 5 kW capacity ranges from Rs 4.25 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh.

To sell solar power, one has to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) of connectivity from the Administration. Sources said the local electricity department had got about 20 such applications so far. A private player, on the condition of anonymity, said the Administration should simplify the process for issuing NOC. “There is so much paperwork at present, which discourages those interested in selling solar power,” he said.

According to Ravinder Singh, project director of CREST (Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology), the private players had to make their schemes more lucrative if they wanted that people lease out the roofs of their houses for installation of solar power panels.

“In my opinion, they should offer to house owners Rs 2.50 to Rs 3 for a unit of electricity generated,” said Ravinder Singh.

The tricity has nearly 10 major private players dealing in installation of solar power panels.