Sector 39 Waterworks in Chandigarh to Soon Welcome Solar Panels

The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh will soon get its first solar power plant at the Sector 39 waterworks. The floating solar power panels are expected to generate electricity worth ₹1.38 crore annually.

The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) will execute the project. CREST is the agency for the implementation of various rooftop solar projects in the city. The 2 MWp floating SPV floating power plant at the Sector 39 waterworks will generate 28 lakh units per annum and will be set up under the CAPEX mode where all expenditure will be borne by CREST.

The revenues will be shared between the UT administration and municipal corporation in 70:30 ratio. Accordingly, Rs 97.21 lakh will go to the government treasury and Rs 41.66 lakh to the cash-starved civic body.

As per the construction layout plan provided by the MC to the agency, the construction of a few water tanks is to be completed by September/October. After that, the site will be handed over to CREST for installing the plant. The MC has worked out the plan and will table it in a General House meeting for formal approval tomorrow. Officials said that in spite of constraints of land availability, 44.5 MW had been achieved via both government and private buildings, according to media reports. A target of 69 MW by 2022 has been set by the Ministry of Power for Chandigarh.

In October last year, the city administration pushed out yet another scheme to drive the move to solar. It was the latest offer for free installation on first cum first served basis for city residents and was under the previously approved Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model for buildings in the city. The offer followed a petition filed by CREST. The Chandigarh UT has a target of generating 69 MW of solar energy by 2022.