Friday, January 31, 2014: Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) has come up with a rather novel way to let the city residents convert their existing power inverters into solar ones and save them from hefty electricity bills, while also giving them freedom from load shedding. The UT administration will provide as much as 30 per cent subsidy for the same.
As part of the scheme, 100 households will be chosen in the first phase. The last date for acceptance of applications for the same has been extended till February-end. “The scheme will not only give residents freedom from power cuts, but also save them from hefty electricity bills if they use the solar energy alternatively with the regular supply.” UT director, environment and wildlife, Santosh Kumar was quoted as saying. With a 500 watt solar panel, residents can get an inverter with a capacity of Volt-Ampere (VA) at a price of Rs 24,000 post subsidy. The ministry of new and renewable energy has provided financial assistance for the incentive.
Meanwhile, the department of science and technology is currently working on a system to utilise power generated from solar panels during the daytime fully by lighting up houses and feeding excess power to the grid.
