New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- Delhi govt is preparing for a major rooftop solar push, with the government setting a target of 2.3 lakh installations in the next six months and an estimated investment of up to Rs 2,700 crore, as Power Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday called for turning the national capital into the "Solar Capital" of India.
Addressing a meeting with solar vendors and other stakeholders, Sood called for a faster rollout of rooftop solar projects and said the government was working towards making Delhi the "Solar Capital" of the country.
"We want to make Delhi the 'Solar Capital' of India. Scale and Speed, on which the honourable Prime Minister of the country, Shri Narendra Modi ji, works; so we are his disciples and will try to work with him at the same speed. We will try to work as quickly as possible, work at speed, and work at scale," Sood said.
The minister said the government was seeking to remove some of the hurdles faced by consumers and vendors, particularly those related to upfront payments. Under the new implementation mechanism, the government will take responsibility for payments to vendors.
"Consumers also hesitate to pay upfront... So, the government has removed the barrier between you and the consumer. We will pay the full amount. The government is taking responsibility," he said.
The Power Department has also launched a dedicated registration portal as part of the implementation process. Sood urged solar vendors to register and participate in the programme while also seeking suggestions from industry stakeholders on improving the rollout.
"If you have any other suggestions on how we can implement this project better, more seamlessly, and at a higher speed, you are more than welcome," he said, inviting vendors to share their feedback with his office. The government's six-month target would require the installation of nearly 38,000 solar systems every month on average, if the proposed 2.3 lakh installations are achieved within the stated timeframe. The minister said the initiative was expected to have an impact beyond renewable energy adoption, with increased solar activity likely to generate employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth in the capital.
The government said the proposed expansion of rooftop solar capacity is part of its broader push towards cleaner energy and greater adoption of solar power among households and other consumers.
The meeting brought together solar vendors and stakeholders to discuss implementation of the scheme, with the government maintaining that faster execution and greater participation from vendors would be crucial to achieving the installation target.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.