Rooftop solar plants to end power cuts in Greater Noida

Development authorities are changing the building by-laws and making rooftop solar plants mandatory for schools and other institutions and residential complexes.

Rooftop solar plants in the city are expected to provide relief to residents from power cuts as administration and institutions have geared up to install these panels.

Rooftop solar plant at Billabong High International School in Noida. (HT Photo)

District inspector of schools(DIOS) on Friday appealed to the schools to install rooftop solar plants.

“Besides helping the city reduce the demand and supply gap in electricity, the schools will save money on power bills too. Although, in Haryana, it has been made mandatory to install rooftop solar plants at schools, in Uttar Pradesh, it has not been made mandatory yet. However, school managements are cooperating and installing the solar power plants of their own accord,” said PK Upadhyay, DIOS, Gautam Budh Nagar.

Several schools have set up rooftop solar plants already.

“We have installed 220 KW capacity solar power plant on the terrace. It may be the largest installed by a school in NCR. This helps in promoting green energy and proper use of school infrastructure. It will lessen the burden on the city’s power demand,” said Parmjit Gandhi,chairman, Billabong High International School, Noida.

Even development authorities are changing the building by-laws and making rooftop solar plants mandatory for schools and other institutions and residential complexes.

Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA) has also appealed to residents to install rooftop solar plants.”Not only large residential society complexes or builder apartments, but even individual houses can install rooftop solar plants on their terraces. This will help in making Noida green in energy too. Air pollution from diesel generator sets will also decrease,” said NP Singh, president, FONRWA.

The district administration has also started installation of solar streetlights. “Solar streetlights are being installed in villages and at government office buildings. Even solar power packs are being installed at government buildings,” said Amit Kumar Singh, subdivisional magistrate(SDM), Dadri.

Virendra Dhada, former chairman, district panchayat, said,”Installation of solar streetlights or rooftop solar plants will be beneficial only if they are maintained properly and are kept functional.”