The national capital has been struggling to meet its power demand even as it has been witnessing power struggle between the governments – the Centre and the Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. While the endless conflict in the corridors of powers may hinder many real issues, there could be a ray of hope for the citizens troubled by power outage.
The Delhi government solar power policy targets 2,000 MW solar power generation by 2022, and it would meet eight per cent requirement in the capital, according to the government.
“Delhi solar policy targets will provide around 2,000 MW Solar power by 2022. Overall, it will meet about eight per cent energy requirement in the capital,” Minister Satyendar Kumar Jain told thestatesman.com in an exclusive interview.
According to the government's statistics, power demand peaks at 11 am and 3 pm. In view of it, the Delhi Government is working to meet up to 500 MW of those peaking power demand.
“Consumer-end-solar-power will also help in mitigating problem of overloading of distribution network and may reduce lower tension (LT) level breakdowns,” the health minister, who is also minister, Power, PWD Industries, Transport & Urban Development, said.
When asked about the new announcement in the renewable energy sector for the capital, the minister replied, “We have made provision of Rs.20 crore for 2017-18 towards generation-based Incentive".
"As per the current market trend, solar installations cost between Rs.55,000-Rs.60,000 per KW without subsidy. We are hopeful in getting better response,” Jain added.
Kejriwal had on June 6, 2016 announced the Delhi government's ambitious policy to make the capital a solar city, as a part of its clean energy movement. Now, the policy is scheduled to roll out in April.
The Delhi government is already on toes to make the city a solar one. For instance, the Delhi Secretariat is first of its kind in India to run on renewable energy, i.e solar power. This initiative by the Delhi government has made them save over Rs 1 crore in the last one year.