Renewable Energy Department of Haryana Issues Financial Assistance Guidelines For Rooftop Solar Projects in the State

Arpit | 29th December 2017

Renewable Energy Department of Haryana Issues Financial Assistance Guidelines For Rooftop Solar Projects in the State
In a bid to push the adoption of rooftop solar in the residential, commercial and industrial sector, the Renewable Energy Department of Haryana has issued Financial Assistance Guidelines. All the rooftop solar systems in the size of 1 to 500 kW will come in the purview of these guidelines. If you are living in Haryana, cities like Gurgaon (Gurugram), Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari or any other city, you should be aware of these guidelines if you are considering installing a rooftop PV Solar System. Below is a summary of the guidelines for your information. Rooftop solar systems for residential, institutional, and social sectors will all be eligible for CFA (Central Financial Assistance). The state government will provide the installations with CFA equal to either 30% of the benchmark project cost or ₹20,000/kW, whichever is lower. The benchmark cost as per the system capacity is shown below:

CFA Haryana The Eligibility Criteria for CFA are as follows:

  • Minimum technical specifications should be as per prescribed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
  • The projects must only use MNRE-approved components.
  • Projects that are installed before any site is visited by a government official will not be considered for subsidies.
  • If an applicant has to install grid-connected rooftop solar projects without net metering, the project will be eligible for CFA. But the user must give notification in writing that the generated power won’t be injected into the grid.
  • If more than one user of a grid-connected rooftop solar project is connected to a common energy meter, then a joint undertaking must be provided that allows the meter to connect to more than one project with the same energy meter. These projects will also be eligible for CFA.
  • The project should be completed in the completion time frame (5 Months).
 
With inputs from Hiten Mahajan

All Houses in Chandigarh Must Mandatorily Install Rooftop Solar

Arpit | 18th December 2017

All Houses in Chandigarh Must Mandatorily Install Rooftop Solar

The UT administration had issued a notification last year, making it compulsory for all houses and group housing societies in Chandigarh that occupied areas more than 500 sq. yards, to install rooftop solar system. However, the implementation of the ruling has been more miss than hit, until now. With the period of the notification set to expire, the UT Administration is beginning to issue notices to those independent houses and group housing societies who have not abided by the notification.

According to this report, there are over ten thousand buildings that qualify under this ruling to mandatorily install rooftop solar system but only about 100 of them have done it. Another 158 have applied so far, which would take the total capacity to about 1,475.98 kWp.

It is to encourage the adoption of rooftop solar that Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) had also announced a subsidy lead program as well as a cash reward for the best performing RWA. Despite that, the uptake has not been significant and therefore these notices are being sent to the defaulters. The UT Administration aims to convert Chandigarh into a 100% solar powered city which would serve as a model to replicate in all UTs across the country. The city has an installed capacity of about 13.5MW, while the aim is to reach the installed capacity of close to 50MW.

If you are in Chandigarh and would like to install rooftop solar system on your house, you can get in touch with our solar advisors by writing an E-Mail on [email protected] or calling us at: ‭+91 98731 67009‬.

Key Highlights of the Uttar Pradesh Solar Policy of 2017

Arpit | 8th December 2017

Key Highlights of the Uttar Pradesh Solar Policy of 2017

After the Final Draft of the Uttar Pradesh Solar Policy 2017 was announced in July, the final solar policy for the state was released yesterday. The solar policy can be accessed here. Several interesting points have been highlighted in the policy, none more so than the fact the Government lead by Yogi Adityanath is looking to add at least 10GW of solar power by the end of the year 2022. We have summarized the solar policy for you presenting the key highlights. They are as follows:

  • Uttar Pradesh government has set an ambitious target of generating 10,700 MW of solar power in next five years by the end of 2022, out of which 4,300 MW is the target set for solar rooftop systems.
  • Uttar Pradesh Government has set an 8% Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target till 2022.
  • For grid-connected solar rooftop system under the net-metering arrangement in the Residential segment, a state Government incentive of Rs. 15000 per KW to a maximum of Rs. 30000 per user is provided. The amount would be disbursed after effective installation, commissioning of the solar system and completing documentation to UPNEDA. The project should be completed within 6 months of the beginning of installation to avail the incentive from UPNEDA. Also, the incentive (solar subsidy) is available only for first 100MW installation on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Only for installations of solar power plants in Uttar Pradesh, greater than 10kW, approval from State Electricity Inspector is required.
  • Another incentive in the new solar energy policy is that it allows investors the facility of 'open access' and thus to sell power to an individual or institutional consumers within and outside the state. This was restricted in the previous policy framework and they were supposed to feed the entire energy generated to UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) grid.
  • Under the new policy, the state is drafting an action plan to develop an exclusive Green Energy Corridor in the arid Bundelkhand region at an investment of about Rs 4,000 crore with partial funding by the Union Government.
  • For new solar power projects in Bundelkhand and eastern UP, the state government would bear the cost of linking the solar power project with the power grid or the cost incurred in laying the overhead power line
  • The land ceiling of 5.058 hectares has been removed exclusively for setting up of solar power plants. Plus 100% exemption from stamp duty. Also, complete exemption from electricity duty for at least next 10 years.
  • The private solar power generator will have the freedom to sell the power anywhere in the country and will get 100 percent waiver in transmission charges.

With inputs from Mr. Hiten Mahajan

Under the New Solar Policy, Goa Aims to Produce 150 MW of Solar Power by 2021

Arpit | 7th December 2017

Under the New Solar Policy, Goa Aims to Produce 150 MW of Solar Power by 2021

Goa's Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar has announced that the Goa Cabinet, after long rounds of discussion has finally approved the new Solar Policy for the state. The new solar policy for Goa will come into full effect around the end of the current financial year. The next two to three months will be utilized for a proper documentation of the policy, which will have three categories, including a 100 KW prosumers.

According to the new policy, a landowner or anyone who can take a NOC from a landowner to set up a solar plant will not be required to take any sort of permission from Civic Authorities for a land conversion, therefore expediting the process of setting up the plant. Solar farms will be permitted to be set up on Comunidade land, as long as a permission can be obtained from the villagers. The prosumers who are which can generate less than 100 KW power would be entitled to get a compensation via Gross Metering, while those above the 100KW mark, can opt for Net Metering.

In an interesting Financial arrangement, the policy adds that state will provide loans up to 50% of the plant cost which can be repaid in the form of units sold back to the State. The new Solar Policy will play a key role in driving the state to the set target of 150 MW by the year 2021.

Source: ET/ TOI

Power Tariffs in Uttar Pradesh Hiked: Tariffs Raised by up to 63% Urban Domestic Energy Consumers Worst Hit

Arpit | 1st December 2017

Power Tariffs in Uttar Pradesh Hiked: Tariffs Raised by up to 63% Urban Domestic Energy Consumers Worst Hit

Uttar Pradesh has joined the likes of Punjab and Delhi in increasing the power tariffs of the state. The state has announced that tariffs have been raised by as much as 63% in certain cases. Most of the residents of the state can expect a rise of around 12%. Electricity prices have been on their way up and UP saw 5.47% tariff hike in the year 2015. The current government has reportedly proposed hike of as much as 22% in the coming days, which could make your electricity bills go soaring up.

For the metered urban domestic connections, a hike of 9% has been announced, which would see the first 100 units to be charged at Rs 3 and Rs 4.50 per unit beyond that. It was announced that the average hike for domestic consumers will be in the region of 12%. Post the announcement yesterday, the urban domestic consumer will be hit hard with the tariff for first 150 units now set at Rs 4.90/ unit, for the next 150 to 300 units the slab will be Rs 5.40/ unit, and for 300 to 500 units the revised rate will be Rs 6.20/ unit.If you consume more than 500 units, you will be paying Rs 6.50 rupees per unit.

The only winner in this price hike has been industrial segment consumers, who have been exempted from this price hike as the Government feels raising the same would hamper the growth of the industries and therefore employment opportunities, clearly outlining how cheaper power today is one of the most important factors to consider. The Government has also given a 15% exemption to smaller industries which are operating between 5 AM and 1 PM in the winters.

The worst hit is the unmetered power connections across Uttar Pradesh, where the rise in the tariffs is 63%. UP alone has more than 65 Lakh, unmetered power connections mainly in rural areas. The hike will see the tariffs raised from about Rs 180-200/kW/ month to Rs 300/ kW/ month.Next year, in March 2018, this will be raised to Rs 400/ kW/ month. The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) chairman, S.K. Agarwal stated that this hike is because it was no more ‘viable’ to be supplying power at such low costs. BJP spokesman Manish Shukla further added that this hike is in order to generate enough revenue to meet the promise of power-to-all by end of 2018.

Fixed charges also have come under revision, with the metered connections fixed charges being revised from Rs 50 per month to Rs 80 per month. As a result of this power hike, the government expects to close the gap between the cost of supply and revenue by 0.60 per unit to Rs 0.74 per unit.

With inflation already on the rise, a basic utility like power cannot be done without. The only ones not affected by the news are those who have already installed rooftop solar power plants on their homes and are completely aloof to these power hikes. They are already on a fixed tariff for the next 25 years and must be smiling reading these stories. If you envy them and are looking for savings and a fixed cost for the next 25 years, you should not wait any longer. Click on the button below, and start your solar journey with MYSUN today.

Source: Mint/ ET