PMC Identifies 14 Civic Buildings to Install Rooftop Solar Panels and Save Rs 91 Lakh a Year

To generate additional 176 KWP to achieve its target of 1 MW of solar energy via rooftop solar panels, the PMC is also trying to identify more civic buildings.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is planning to sign an agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India to generate 824 KWP (Kilowatt hours at peak capacity) of solar energy on rooftops of civic buildings.

The PMC believes that this step will help it save Rs 91 lakh a year. According to the civic administration, the proposal tabled in the Standing Committee has identified 14 civic buildings, where rooftop solar panels will be installed to generate 824 KWP of renewable energy.

To generate additional 176 KWP to achieve its target of 1 MW of solar energy via rooftop solar panels, the PMC is also trying to identify more civic buildings. “The generation of solar energy on rooftops of civic buildings, and its usage, will help us save Rs 91 lakh per year for the civic body,” said the civic body.

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has given a green signal for tariff of Rs 5.63 kWh for solar power, but the Solar Energy Corporation of India has offered a lower tariff of Rs 3.62 kWh.

The civic buildings identified for the purpose are Savarkar Bhavan, Balgandharva Auditorium, Bhimsen Joshi Auditorium, Ghole Road Art Gallery, Rajiv Gandhi e-learning School, Mahatma Phule Auditorium, Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium, Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, the main PMC building, Naidu Hospital, Annabhau Sathe Auditorium, Kamla Nehru Hospital, buildings of ward offices and the Water Works Building at Parvati.

The proposal stated, “The PMC initiative would be a part of the Union government’s plan to increase generation of renewable energy in the country.” The PMC has set a target to generate 5 MW solar power in civic properties after achieving success in generation of 1 MW on civic buildings.

It had also decided to get satellite images of the city, to enable the PMC to identify rooftops in the city that can be used for setting up solar panels.

Source: Indian Express