Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) can save around Rs 1 crore annually on electricity bills thanks to the civic body’s plan to install solar panels plants on civic properties. As many as 14 rooftops solar plants will be set up on PMC buildings.
“We have given approval for the project. The project will serve more than one purpose. It will help in saving electricity bills. We can also promote renewable energy,” said Murulidhar Mohol, standing committee chairman to TOI. He said that PMC will not make any financial investment in setting up plants. Only the space for setting up plants will be given by PMC.
The standing committee approved the proposal on Tuesday. The civic body spends around Rs 4 crore annually on paying electricity bills of various properties owned by the civic administration. The capacity of these plants ranges between 100 MW and 500 MW. PMC will have to pay Rs 3.62 kWh to use electricity generated from these plants.
The proposal states that the company will monitor, operate and maintain the plants for 25 years. The plants will be set up with the help of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). PMC will carry out the project on the lines of Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO).
According to PMC officials, Pune was included in a list of “solar cities” in 2016. It is an initiative of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) is coordinating the implementation of the project.
