Raj govt set to solarise its bldgs, 1k MW tenders soon

Jaipur: Govt departments in Rajasthan pay electricity charges of over Rs 100 crore a month. If they invest in solar rooftop plants, they can recover the amount in four years and the electricity will be free for the next 20 years.
It’s not the free electricity alone that the Rajasthan govt is looking at. The shift to solar can also increase its green footprint and help it fight climate change.
“We are working on floating tenders for 1,000 rooftop solar plants on govt buildings soon, maybe in two months,” said Nathmal Didel, managing director of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd, which has been chosen as nodal agency by the Central govt to implement the PM-Surya Ghar scheme.
Speaking at Rajasthan Solar Association’s (RSA) expo on solar components on Saturday, Didel said that they will have to coordinate with all the departments of the government to push the scheme and the engagements with them have already started.
Estimates suggest that govt buildings in Rajasthan require nearly rooftop plants of 1,600 MW. Decisions on funding strategies for the projects are yet to be finalised.
Somya Gurjar, mayor of JMC Greater, who participated in the event, said that they are looking to ink an MoU with the RRECL to set up rooftop plants.
She said JMC Greater has many vast open areas which are ideal for rooftop solar plants.
Solarisation of govt buildings is likely to send a compelling message to general households to consider rooftop solar, feels RSA, the industry body.
President of RSA Sunil Bansal said, “Solarisation of govt buildings is expected to set off a chain reaction as more and more households, which are now reluctant, will come forward to shift to the cheaper green power,” said Bansal.
He also said that development of rooftop solar at such a large scale will also create a lot of opportunities for MSME solar industry and generate more jobs.
Many innovative solar products manufacturers and technology providers participated in the exhibition.