The plan to develop Chandigarh as ‘model solar city’ by 2018 could help the city save at least 500 million units of electricity by adopting energy efficiency measures and generating electricity through solar PV plants.
Out of total 60 cities that were proposed to be developed as solar cities in India, the Government of India has accorded in-principle approval to 34 cities including Chandigarh to be developed as solar cities.
Associate Fellow, The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) Ishan Purohit told Business Standard on the sidelines of the International Conference and Exposition on Renewable Energy Agenda for the North said the city’s potential was very high.
A solar city aims to reduce a minimum of 10 per cent of its projected demand of conventional energy at the end of five years through energy efficiency measures and generation from renewable energy installations.
Purohit said at present there was possibility of 20 per cent energy savings in residential sector, 20 per cent in commercial and four per cent in municipal services including water supply and street lights.