Patna can generate 759 MW of solar energy
January 2015, Patna: Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) and BRIDGE TO INDIA presented its report “Rooftop Revolution: Uncovering Patna’s solar potential” disclosing Patna’s potential for solar power at 277 MW by 2025 by using city’s roofspace. The report, released charts a green and viable path for Patna to move towards energy security.
Tobias Engelmeier, Founder and Director, BRIDGE TO INDIA who co-authored the report said, “The campaign, initiated by Greenpreace in Bihar aims at raising awareness about how much renewable, local power generation models can contribute to Bihar’s growth. BRIDGE TO INDIA’s comprehensive analysis of the current power scenario of the state concludes that, in the long run, a large scale adoption of solar power in Patna can be a key building block to an affordable and reliable power supply. BRIDGE TO INDIA’s modelling revealed that Patna has a geographical potential to install around 759 MW of rooftop solar. This is twice the current India-wide installed rooftop solar capacity. The solar rooftop market is a great opportunity for companies and investors offering innovative sales, operations and financing solutions. Analysts at BRIDGE TO INDIA have envisaged a road map for Patna to help meet its energy demands by adopting solar in a phased manner. The city could add 277 MW by 2025 without significant technical challenges, storage requirements or dedicated grid investments. Thus, solar could meet about 20% of the city’s power requirement.”
Patna could start producing solar energy up to 35 MW in initial phase by using the roof space on government and industrial buildings. This can bridge the ever increasing gap between demand and supply of energy. It can also insure us against the dirty, unsustainable, uncertain and costly electricity from conventional sources like coal and diesel.
“Solar Rooftop revolution for Patna is not just a report but a vision to realize Patna as a green capital powered by clean and sustainable sources of energy like solar. This report comes at a time when the new draft of urban development policy recognizes the programme for solar roof -top projects. This would act as bridging the gap between ever-increasing electricity crisis and rising tariffs. This report provides an alternative pathway. What is required is political intent to convert this vision into a reality,” said Akanksha Upadhyay, Programme Coordinator, from CEED, India.
The largest potential for solar power rests with residential buildings, which account for 86% of the city’s solar potential. The estimated solar-suitable rooftop space in Patna is around 9 Sq. KM, which can accommodate 759 MW of solar Power. The report not only maps the potential and viability of the various building types falling under different tariff categories but also detailed business models and scenarios under which solar rooftop is advantageous. For residences, solar rooftop is still very complex and needs some fiscal support. However, the increasing power tariffs from grid electricity and the falling prices of solar systems makes it a potential and sustainable source of energy.
Significantly, government buildings, due to their proximity to each other and large roof space, facilitate bundling of projects that can enable large project sizes. Large solar systems reduce the per kilowatt cost considerably making solar already viable for government buildings. Hence, there is clear viability for solar power in Patna without long term capital subsidy as the scenarios in the report illustrate.
“Solar power is now not about if, but about when. It is inevitable as the energy system of the future. What was lacking was the insight into the potential that the city holds. This report fills that gap and is an exhaustive document that outlines the new energy structure for Patna. This report provides arguments and data to the Bihar government, distribution companies, and its people to show why solar makes sense for the city,” said Jasmeet Khurana, Senior Manager – Market Intelligence, Bridge to India.
The report was released at the Conference in Patna. Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Bihar Chapter, Mr S P Sinha, Founder and secretary general of ADRI, Shri Shaibal Gupta, and Chairman of Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission Mr U N Panjiar presented their view to solarise the Patna roof space with solar energy.
“Solar energy is future and no city can grow without implementing it in letter and spirit. The city of Patna has the opportunity of establishing itself again and brining pride to its glorious past by adopting and becoming one of the leaders in providing energy security to its people through solar power, said S P Sinha, Chairman, CII Bihar Chapter.