Rooftop solar panels to generate electricity for government buildings in Maharashtra

To meet its power requirements, the state government is planning to install rooftop solar panels on its buildings to harness the power of the sun for electricity generation. It may also consider giving capital subsidies to semi-government and even private entities for setting up these systems.

The off-grid renewable energy policy, which is due to be placed before the state cabinet soon, is also looking at promoting steam-based solar cooking systems in community buildings like jails, hospitals and government hostels.

"There are around 33,000 government buildings in Maharashtra barring Mumbai," noted a senior Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) official, adding that this covered structures like government offices, hospitals and dispensaries, hostels and residential quarters. "We plan to install rooftop solar panels on them in phases wherever it is feasible," he added.

"While the government will install rooftop solar power systems on its buildings, there is planning underway to grant 50% subsidies to semi-government bodies and 30% for private entities... however, we will not target individuals but bulk producers like group housing societies," he noted, adding that they "planned to go beyond the conventional belief where solar energy is largely equated with water heaters."

However, it could be mandatory for builders and developers to include rooftop solar water heaters on their buildings before the construction plans are approved.

The area above a normal flat could be used to generate around three to four units. "This can be used for captive consumption leading to lower power bills," the official explained, adding that the policy would focus largely on solar energy generation for off-grid use.

"The policy will also promote community cooking in jails and in government hospitals and hostels. This will be on the lines of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust at Shirdi, which has installed the largest solar system project which generates steam for cooking. This system can meet a large part of the cooking requirements of institutions like hospitals and can reduce their consumption of domestic gas," he added.

"We are also looking to promote solar water supply schemes and solar-powered agriculture pumps. These water supply schemes energised by solar power will help gram panchayats which have no capacity to pay power bills. This, coupled with solar agricultural pumps, can benefit villages which are far-flung and hence, supply of grid electricity is difficult," the official said.

The state's new and renewable energy policy aims at creating 14,400 MW of fresh grid-connected installed capacity in the sector by 2019-20. It will be a manifold increase from the 2,500 MW renewable energy target in the previous policy, which was approved in 2008.

This includes 7,500 MW from solar energy, and wind energy and baggase-based cogeneration will contribute 5,000 MW and 1,000 MW respectively. Small hydro power projects, with a capacity of 5 MW and less, will make up for 400 MW and 300 MW is proposed to be generated from industrial waste and 200 MW from biomass.

Maharashtra accounts for 13,500 MW of India's assessed renewable energy potential of 89,411 MW (excluding solar energy). It is one of the seven states endowed with good solar energy potential.