Kerala’s Draft Energy Policy Mandates Solar, Proposes Community Solar

Kerala, among the net importers of energy in the country, has released a draft energy policy where the state continues to push for solar, and by extension, a degree of energy self sufficiency.

The draft policy mandates solar for all consumers using over 500 units in a month, with a minimum requirement of 1 kW. For consumers who donot have access to rooftops for solar installations, it suggests the option of community solar or solar plants made through contributions from multiple contributors.  Commercial consumers too ought to go for at least 3 kW of solar installations. However, if they occupy an area over 400 sq metres, then the requirement goes to 5kW or higher.

The policy also suggests  charging point for electric vehicles (EVs) in buildings across all urban areas across the state.

Kerala has done well in recent years, adding solar capacity even as the share of solar and wind capacity has touched almost 25% of the state’s total capacity. However, share of generation is still much lower.  Generation within the state is mostly from Hydel power, which has faced some stress in recent years due to erratic monsoons in recent years. Hence, the state’s  push to add more solar capacity is natural. Dropping energy storage costs possibly add another dimension to the state’s efforts, by enabling power storage during the daytime for evening peak hours, when the state’s power demand soars.

The biggest challenge of course remains the risk of subsidising consumers who have a roof over those who don’t, as the community solar option proposed is yet to take off in a significant way anywhere in India due to lack of interest from developers. Developers do not like the idea of coordinating with multiple consumers, and await a regulatory mechanism that insulates payment risk for them to consider such moves.

States across India are increasingly pushing for cool roof policies as well where rooftops are being pushed to go for white paint or reflective paint as a low cost way to reduce heating inside , and reduce energy demand for cooling. Kerala is also in the process of presenting a rooftop cooling policy soon.