In Delhi it is now possible for Cooperative group housing societies (CGHS)  to instal rooftop solar power panels on their buildings. The power department of Delhi government has begun inviting applications from housing societies and individual house owners and also has started the registration process.

Delhi Govt Rooftop Solar energy guideline             

“So far, a few housing societies from… Dwarka have expressed interest. We are trying to reach out to societies across the city. Our team will visit these societies soon for inspection. We can then give details, such as area suitable for solar panels, investment needed, cost benefits, and other issues,” said AK Jha, executive officer with the power department.

For the housing societies, there are three categories of solar plants — 1-5 kW, 5-10 kW and above 10 kW, depending on area of the rooftop. According to Jha, the first category will require a rooftop area of 10 sq m.

“If a housing society instals a solar system of 30 kW, which costs Rs 16.5 lakh, they will get a subsidy of Rs 4.95 lakh. A solar plant of this capacity would need a shadow-free area of 312 sq m,” Jha explained.

He continued, “The 100-kW project will cost around Rs 55-60 lakh, of which 30 per cent will be paid as subsidy. Vendors who’ll install the solar panels will also be responsible for maintenance for a period of five years. After that, the vendor will charge for maintenance.”

The Uttar Pradesh government will give 10,000 solar pumps for irrigation purpose to farmers at up to 70% subsidy on a first come-first serve basis this fiscal, state agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi said on Thursday.

Solar energy-driven pump set is an emerging alternative of electrical and diesel pump systems in farm irrigation.

Under the solar… Continue reading →

 Solar water pumps for farmers in place of their diesel and thermal power-based pumps, artificial ponds in farms to strengthen water conservation, rooftop solar panels, and electric vehicles in urban areas are some of the projects the state has been implementing since a year to mitigate the action plan to adapt to climate change.

B N Patil, director of environment, told TOI on Monday that soon after the state received recommendations for its climate change action plan from TERI in 2016, “we refined it further to evolve our own climate change adaptation policy which has been already approved by the cabinet. The forest department, for one, has taken up a plan to plant 13 crore trees across Maharashtra.”

Patil said while it is premature to… Continue reading →