Installation of rooftop solar plants: Chandigarh admin gives nod to fix BOT period at 22.5 years

To resolve the issue, the administration has asked CREST to finalise the BOT period to 22 years and six months for free installation of rooftop solar power plants with the firm and to start the work at the earliest.

12,000 applications received

CREST has already received more than 1,200 applications from residents for free-of-cost installation of rooftop solar plants, which aim at generating 8.5 mwp of solar power, even as this falls short of the intended target of 20 mwp.

The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) in January this year, granted approval for the installation of grid-connected rooftop solar plants in the city for domestic consumers by a third party under the build, operate and transfer (BOT) model.

What is RESCO model?

Under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, the house owners will get electricity at a consistent rate of Rs 3.23 per unit. Once the BOT period concludes, the ownership of the solar plant will get transferred to the consumer at no additional cost.

Earlier, the administration had made installation of rooftop power plants mandatory for houses measuring 500 square yard and above. Under the new model, the house owner will have to provide nearly 500 square feet of space for a 5 kwp solar plant.

Target revised

Chandigarh’s solar power generation target was revised by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy from 69 mwp to 75 mwp which was to be achieved by August 15.

The UT administration aims at meeting the target by December this year with nearly 56 mwp already generated.