Mumbai, Oct. 8 -- The Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) has approved a unified plan to install rooftop solar systems at approximately 1,100 civic buildings without direct capital expenditure by the civic body. The proposal was cleared at the MCD House meeting on Tuesday, allowing Indraprastha Power Generation Company (IPGCL) to conduct feasibility assessments and install systems at eligible properties under the Delhi Solar Energy Policy, 2023.

The decision means the MCD will abandon its earlier plan to issue a separate tender for rooftop solar projects and instead adopt the framework established by the Delhi Government's power department. IPGCL has already awarded tenders covering nearly 2,600 Government buildings, including around 1,100 MCD properties.

Official documents show that the MCD has installed 574 rooftop solar photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 13.25 MWp. These include 399 systems at properties of the erstwhile South Delhi Municipal Corporation, 164 on schools of the former North Delhi Municipal Corporation and 10 at properties of the erstwhile East Delhi Municipal Corporation. Structural and feasibility assessments have identified another 800 to 900 municipal buildings that may host grid-connected systems.

Under the arrangement, the Delhi Government will bear capital expenditure or long-term operational costs through IPGCL under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model. A third-party service provider will finance, install, operate and maintain the systems, while the MCD will buy the electricity at a pre-agreed tariff rather than own the plants. IPGCL will install systems of up to 25 kW under the capital expenditure model and provide five years of free maintenance, while larger systems will be developed under the RESCO model.

The MCD will remain responsible for routine roof repairs and provide access for installation work. The plan also enables Group Net Metering, allowing surplus electricity generated at one municipal building to offset consumption at another. Annual surplus power may be carried forward or credited at an average purchase cost of around Rs. 5 per unit, which could help reduce the civic body's electricity expenditure.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.