Saturday, June 01, 2013: Delhi has long been harboring reservations about the use of solar schemes that have been making noise all over the country. When compared to states like Gujarat and Kerala, Delhi lags far behind. However, the potential for solar power generation in the state is huge. It gets the same amount of sunlight as any other state who is switching to renewable energy resource.
The government of Kerala is already working on its plan to bring solar power to 10,000 homes in its first phase. The households, of course are going to get high subsidies for the installation of solar panels. The schemes in Tamil Nadu are even bigger. In its first phase of solar panel installations, it has already planned for 60,000 households, the maximum of which include the poor households. Both these states are offering highly lucrative subsidy rates.
The only reason that has worked in favour of these states to turn to alternative energy is the long power outages. Officials from the ministry have hinted that solar energy is being seen as a much reliable and cheaper alternative than electricity. Even comparatively backward states like Bihar have ambitious plans revolving around solar power.
In Gujarat, however, it has already been made mandatory for all government homes to be fueled by solar energy. Active schemes have been taken up for rural households in Rajasthan. With so much going around solar power, Delhi has never been an active player. In fact, the government has withdrawn subsidies on solar water heaters.
According to NDPL officials, nothing more has been done than just demonstrating the projects. One of the major setbacks in Delhi are the old buildings that seem to be a bottleneck in the installation procedures. However, the scenario is soon expected to change for the better and people are realizing the potential of solar power.
