Delhi will soon become solar capital of India: Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: At the inauguration of a 218-kilowatt peak solar plant at Lady Irwin College, Arwind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, said that Delhi is aiming to become the solar capital of India. He thanked Okridge Energy, a leading rooftop solar panel developer in India, for the solar power plant which will take care of up to 80 per cent of the electricity requirement of the college.

This project will save upto Rs 3.81 crores in terms of electricity bills over the life of the plant. The solar plant will generate 3.05 lakh units of power each year leading to reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 274 tonnes per year.

Kejriwal said that there was need to convert solar energy into a mass movement. He added that for the same purpose the government has contrived a policy named ‘Mukhya Mantri Solar Power Yojana’. The policy aims at incentivizing the installation of solar power plants for both residential and commercial properties. Last year, Delhi government had formulated ‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Aay Badhotari Solar Yojana’ inviting private companies to install solar panels on not more than one-third of the total land owned by a farmer. The farmers were paid rent by the companies and the green energy thus generated was supplied to various areas.

The Chief Minister said that the government has and will continue taking initiatives to encourage solar power usage. He added, “Green energy is the future of resources of energy.”