Soon, get solar panels set up on rooftops for free

Tribune news service

Chandigarh, January 14

Soon, city residents will not have to pay any upfront amount for the installation of solar plants at their houses. The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST), the nodal agency for installation of solar plants in the city, has finalised a scheme under which the firm will install the plant without taking any amount from the owners of the houses.

The owners will have to give only space on the rooftop to the firm and they will get electricity at Rs 2 per unit less than the existing rates for the next 15 years even if the electricity rate increases. After the completion of the fixed period, the company will hand over the solar plant to the owner. The firm will recover the cost by selling the energy produced from the plant. Sources said CREST had sent the proposal for approval to the Electricity Department.

Debendra Dalai, Director-cum-CEO of CREST, said once they got consent of the Electricity Department, a tender would be floated to invite companies. He said the move would help the Administration in achieving the target of generating 69 MW of solar energy by 2022. The UT Administration has fixed March 2020 deadline for the installation of solar plants and decided not to extend it further.

Several residents are still not coming forward for installation of solar plants because of initial capital investment. Dalai said this would be a game-changing scheme. The company will maintain the solar system until the agreement period. The Administration is also giving subsidy to the residents on installation of rooftop solar panels. The collection of subsidy from the government will also be the responsibility of the private company.

Cheaper power for 15 years

• The owners will have to give only space on the rooftop to the firm and they will get electricity at Rs2 per unit less than the existing rates for the next 15 years even if the electricity rate increases.
• After the completion of the fixed period, the company will hand over the solar plant to the owner. The firm will recover the cost by selling the energy produced from the plant.
• Sources said the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) had sent the proposal for approval to the Electricity Department.

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