Solar power in north Delhi civic body buildings, including 30 schools

According to North Delhi Municipal Corporation officials, the move to install solar panels will help to collectively generate 1.5MW electricity and save at least ₹9 lakh per month.

To push its green energy initiative and cut electricity expenses, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation will install grid-connected rooftop solar panels on municipal buildings, including 30 schools, four hospitals and four zonal offices.

A senior official of North Delhi Municipal Corporation said 1MW solar power would be generated at the school buildings under the capital expenditure model in which the municipality would bear the cost of the plant. (Bloomberg / Representative Photo)

According to north corporation officials, the move will help to collectively generate 1.5MW electricity and save at least ₹9 lakh per month.

North corporation standing committee chairperson Veena Virmani said: “Tenders for the installation of solar panels on eight buildings, including four hospitals and four zonal offices, have been floated and installation work will begin in two weeks. Solar panels at these buildings will produce 435KW electricity.”

A senior official said power generation at hospitals and zonal buildings would begin in June and at the schools by the end of July. He said bids for schools would be invited after the model code of conduct was over.

The zonal offices – Keshav Puram, Civil Lines, Narela and Karol Bagh -- and hospitals will follow the Renewable Energy Service Company model where the vendor would invest money and maintain the plant for 25 years.

“In return, we will purchase electricity as per rates quoted in the bidding process. Purchasing electricity under this model will be cheaper by at least ₹3.75 per unit. The corporation will save ₹1.5 lakh per month on electricity bills for these eight buildings,” the official said.

The hospitals chosen for the project are Balakram Hospital, Kasturba Hospital, Girdharilal Maternity Hospital and RBIPMT Hospital.

The official said 1MW solar power would be generated at the school buildings under the capital expenditure model in which the municipality would bear the cost of the plant. “We will generate and consume electricity and save around ₹7.5 lakh per month. We will add more buildings in the next phase,” he said.