The Millennium City got the country's first smart mini-grid (SMG), the renewable energy-based power generation and distribution system.
This has given a big boost to the power infrastructure in the city, which is facing severe shortage of power.
The advanced unit which is operated through smart control techniques using solar energy, micro-hydro power plants, wind turbines, biomass and conventional generators was commissioned on Friday by union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah and power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
The grid developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has been set up at the TERI Retreat building in the Gual Pahari area.
In order to meet the growing power demands, the country needs to tap all sources of energy, Abdullah said, adding that the use of renewable energy cannot be limited to remote villages alone as such resources can provide relief from power shortage in urban areas too.
Shinde said that the smart mini-grids will be useful for various projects in villages and inaccessible areas. RK Pachauri, director general, TERI, said the commissioning of SMG is a major step towards development. In future, building will have to use hybrid sources of energy and focus on smart solutions.