Delhi Solar Policy and it's Solar Highlights
The above solar policy of Delhi is dated 2016 and is valid in between 2016-2020 and
subjected to modifications annually based on actual performance and market conditions.
The document for the same can be found
here.
Delhi or Dilli as it is commonly called is the National Capital of India. It has a population of
almost 11 million. Recently, Delhi has been seen as the centre of the National Capital Region
(NCR) which includes other cities such as Noida, Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Manesar,
Faridabad etc. Delhi has been battling the problem of air pollution for several years and
solar has been suggested as an important step in the direction of battling that. Delhi has
already commissioned solar power of 38.78 MW, with 24.5MW coming in the FY 16/17. The
last major update to the Delhi Solar Policy was announced in June 2016, with the AAP
government giving the sector a push. The policy ams to make Delhi a 'Solar City' with a
target set of achieving 1000MW by 2020 and 2,000 MW by 2025. To encourage users
towards installing rooftop solar PV systems, the policy also has ensured leeways such as
relaxing building laws so that the height of the structure carrying the panels will not be
accounted towards the overall height of the building. Similarly, anyone who wants to install
solar plant or a monitoring device will not have to take any permission form urban
development bodies before taking the step to go solar. The latest policy mandates that all
government owned rooftops in the next five years must house a rooftop solar plant. The
Delhi Solar Energy Policy of 2016 is applicable to all solar energy generating systems that are
at least 1KWp in size. The Policy also mandates promoting net metering/ gross metering and
making the entire process of obtaining it more streamlined.