MNRE Shares Concept Note on Plan for one Solar City in Each State/ UT

MNRE has shared a concept note per which each State should have at least one solar city where all houses have rooftop solar energy plants and all electricity needs of the city are fully met from solar energy or other renewable energy sources.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has shared a concept note on One Solar City in Each State/ UT.  It states that the Prime Minister has desired that each State should have at least one solar city where all houses have rooftop solar energy plants and all electricity needs of the city are fully met from solar energy or other renewable energy sources. Accordingly, all States/Union Territories have been requested to select one city (either the capital city or a renowned tourist destination) which can be developed as a solar city. So far, 12 states have identified their cities which can be developed as a solar city.

India has pledged that by 2030, 40 percent of its total installed power generation capacity will be from renewables. And, in order to meet the obligation, the government has launched the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme Phase – II. Under which, the Government of India gives 40 percent of the cost of rooftop solar plant upto 3 kW and 20 percent of the cost of capacity above 3 kW upto 10 kW. CFA of 20 percent is also provided to Resident Welfare Association/Group Housing Societies for installation of rooftop systems upto 600 kW for common facilities services. 

In order to meet the electricity needs of a city completely, various renewable energy resources may be used. Furthermore, the renewable energy generation in excess of the requirement of that city, at any time in a day, maybe exported to the grid and whenever there is no or less generation of electricity from renewable resources, power may be drawn from the grid. 

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To be declared as Solar City the generation of electricity from various renewable resources in the city should be equal to or more than the power needs of the city.

MNRE is implementing a number of schemes for promoting the adoption of renewable sources of energy for the generation of electricity. These schemes include setting up of solar parks, rooftop solar, solar street lights, use of urban/municipal waste for generating power, etc. All these schemes are being implemented in different areas /parts of the country.

 The PM has desired that all these schemes be converged for this scheme – so that one city in each State is developed as a Green City. This city will meet all its energy requirements from renewable sources of energy. This is in line with the international trend in green energy. Various countries have announced periods during which they will only use green energy. 

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Many buildings and enterprises are declaring and moving towards net-zero emissions. The city will continue to be connected with the grid and the renewable energy injected into the grid shall be equivalent to or more than the total consumption of electricity in the city. 

This will be done via:

• Rooftop Solar 
• Waste to Energy
• Solar Street Lights
• Green Mobility
• Solar Parks

It concluded by stating that the power costs of a city shall come down drastically after it is converted into a green city. At the same time, the net emissions will come down to zero and the carbon footprint shall also decline to very low levels. The environment can be further improved by taking up large scale tree plantation and developing parks in the cities. The city will be advertised as a green city.