Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has decided to make the use of solar power mandatory for buildings with a floor area of more than 2,000sq ft.
For houses with floor area between 2,000 and 3,000 sq ft, it has been stipulated that there should be a 100 litre solar water heater and a solar plant of 500 W.
As for households with floor area more than 3,000 sq ft, they should have a 100 litre solar water heater and should install a solar plant with a capacity of 1,000 W.
Solar water heating systems will be made mandatory in industrial buildings, government and private hospitals, resorts and hotels, too.
“The objective is to generate 500 MW solar power by the end of 2017, and 2,500 MW by 2030,” power minister M.M. Mani said.
As for grid-connected systems, the minister said that the government policy would be to initiate a programme under which all public buildings are provided with generation facilities using appropriate technology options. “As the load cycle of the government offices match with that of the solar plants, they are fitting cases of solar application,” a top KSEB Limited engineer said. “The engineering procurement and construction (EPC) mode of implementation will be replaced by a design-build-operate-and-transfer scheme,” the official said.
Considering the cost of solar systems, the minister said that grid-connected systems would be promoted for domestic consumers in a phased manner.
He said that 1 kw roof-top solar had been installed in 9,837 households under the 10,000 Roof Top Solar project, together generating 9.837 MW. Measures have already been initiated to install solar plants on government buildings, Mr Mani said.
KSEBL is also mulling generation-based subsidy instead of the usual capital subsidies for off-grid solar projects. “Generation-based incentives will ensure that the systems are installed, maintained and continue to remain functional,” the KSEBL official said.
“The existing capital subsidies will be restructured appropriately,” he added.
