MCD Plans Rooftop Solar at Public Spaces in Delhi Including EV Charging Stations

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation to set up solar power panels on all buildings of MCD that are suitable for the purpose. 

The local body has already added more than 11 MW of rooftop solar generation capacity till now. All three erstwhile municipal corporations installed solar power on buildings in different capacities. However, South MCD has most of the installations that go over 10 MW capacity.

MCD has signed the agreement with SECI and NTPC to install a 10-15 MW rooftop under the RESCO model. These institutions would install these solar panels on stack and puzzle parking spaces, electric vehicle charging lots, and public parks. 

The move comes even as Delhi has struggled to meet its solar targets, reaching barely 10% of the capacity planned by 2022. The state has set itself a target of 6,000 MW by 2025-2026, which is well out of reach based on the actual action on the ground.

Some popular sites where solar power is being harnessed include Waste to Wonder Park, Bharat Darshan Park and Shaheedi Park. In addition, the stack parking lot in Lajpat Nagar was recently solarised with 96KW rooftop solar installations through the RESCO model.

This RE trajectory represents the optimal utilization of public spaces and rationalization of public resources. For example, an MCD official noted that rooftop solar demonstrates the use of solar power that not just adds to the cause of decarbonizing the power sector but also helps tourism.

Delhi’s DISCOM BSES recently unveiled two rooftop solar-powered EV stations at South Extension-II and Bhikaji Cama Place as it reduces the charging cost and dodges peak power requirements during the day. 

A new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) reveals that generating solar energy to recharge electric vehicle (EV) batteries is a far more efficient use of space than other uses, including growing crops for ethanol.

ULBs Open Solar Front 

Urban local bodies (ULBs) nationwide are installing solar power on building tops and public spaces to harness green energy as per the size of their pockets. Among the many recent initiatives, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) formulated a plan to multiply the capacity of its present solar installations from 40MW to 300 MW in the next three years by utilizing the roof area of the city’s buildings.

A symbol of self-reliance in terms of power, the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) turned its headquarters’ rooftop into a 357 KW solar plant that today generates 1300 units of energy every day, saving over Rs 2.5 lacs for the GMC in electricity bills. In addition, Chandigarh brought its RESCO model into play to solarize the city and give solar installations to households for free.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in Mumbai has made solar water heaters and rooftop solar panels mandatory on buildings for owners to get occupation certificates (OCs) from the authority.