Rooftop Solar power system govt policies in Delhi

Government Policies

Delhi solar policy has been up for a year now. Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) published this policy in June 2016. It is Delhi’s green energy road-map for next four years (2016-2020). GNCTD will be monitoring this policy every year to evaluate results against policy objectives. Moreover, this policy acknowledges Union Territory’s (UT’s) solar potential. Delhi has a capacity for generating 2.5 GW of solar energy. UT’s plans are to reach a potential of 1 GW by 2020 and 2 GW by year 2025.

Some of policy’s main aims are to spread public awareness of solar energy, solar systems and benefits. Reducing dependence on conventional energy sources is also one of its major objectives.

Important objectives of the solar policy:

  • First and foremost, to reduce UT’s reliance on Thermal and Hydro energy together with lowering energy prices.
  • Secondly, to encourage public-private partnerships to drive demand and adoption. Furthermore, to raise public awareness of solar energy, solar systems and their benefits.
  • Lastly, to promote net metering/gross metering and grid connectivity for all solar plants.

 Benefits to consumers in solar policy and tax exemptions:

  • Govt. is offering generation based incentives of Rs 2/unit for three years. Minimum eligibility for which is 1100 solar energy units per annum up to 1500 units.
  • Also, GNCTD has exempted electricity tax (currently 5%) for solar energy units generated, whether for self consumption or supplied to the grid.
  • Further, consumers opting to implement solar to sell power to grid shall be exempted from conversion charges.
  • Furthermore, with effect from April 1st, 2017, GNCTD has started to exempt charges on wheeling, banking and transmission.
  • Not only this but government is also exempting charges like cross subsidy and open access charges.

This policy very clearly distinguishes the roles and working of DISCOMs and Government. Consumers who were confused on how to come about solar, can now easily opt for a solar rooftop system. In fact, as Government is providing significant subsidies and exempting taxes, now is the time for residential consumers to go solar.

Indian rooftop owners have a lot to gain from decentralized rooftop solar plants. Utilizing empty rooftops to tap the Sun’s power at your home or office can help reduce your electricity bill for the next 25 years. It also reduces dependence on polluting sources, such as coal, and thus helps to keep our environment clean.

To make this great investment for your and our country’s future:

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Image: By Intel Free Press [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons