Once again, Gujarat has outdone the rest of India, leading the way in clean energy with a PPP model-based programme that aims to be a benchmark for green energy generation at household-level. Energy Next brings you the details

Gujarat has made its mark on the renewable energy scene in India with its pathbreaking initiatives. Now, the state government is working on a 5 MW rooftop programme that follows the private-public partnership (PPP) model, roping in residential, commercial, institutional and government buildings to allow installation of solar PV panels on their roofs. The panels would be connected to the nearby grid.

The ambitious programme, known as Gandhinagar (Solar) Photovoltaic Rooftop Programme, aims to generate 5 MW of power in its first phase.

Installation of PV panels on rooftops and terraces of private houses is aimed at maximising solar power generation as Gujarat receives an average solar power exposure of more than 5.2 kWh per square metre every day. The project, the first-of-its-kind in India, is in line with Chief Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming Gandhinagar into a solar-powered city. Besides, it is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions significantly.

Every household having a rooftop installation is provided "Green Incentive" which is an amount payable by the project developer on a monthly or bi-monthly basis for every unit of electricity produced and transmitted into the grid at a rate not less than Rs 3 / kWh. Since consumption from the power produced by the solar panels is not allowed, it does not help bring down the electricity bills of the households. However, once fed into the grid, the private properties will also consume a part of the green energy.

An estimated 50 government buildings and 500 private buildings have participated in the project that the government...