The Delhi Government’s “Go Solar Go Green” campaign has started showing results with authorities claiming to surpass targets set under climate change agenda 2021 by installing solar water heating units having a capacity of over 5 lakh litres per day (LPD).
“The total capacity of solar water heating system installed in Delhi so far through subsidy, is 5,25,500 LPD,” said a senior official from Delhi Environment Department.
The city government has made use of solar water heating system mandatory in the buildings with industries, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, canteens as also government and residential buildings having an area of 500 sq.m or more.
A subsidy to the extent of Rs 6000 per every 100 LPD SWH and upto a maximum amount of Rs 60,000 for 1000 LPD systems is being doled out to the non-commercial sector.
Giving details, the official said, in the domestic sector, 500 solar water heating units have been so far established with the total installed capacity of 86,000 LPD while in non—commercial sectors 85 units have been installed with the total capacity of 1,52,600 LPD.
“In non-commercial sector we are targeting colleges, hostels including women hostels, old age homes, government-run homes and orphanages for boys and girls and religious establishments like temples having large kitchens where hot water is required for cleaning and cooking purpose,” he added.
So far, 55 schools and colleges have installed the solar water units with total capacity of 55,000 LPD.
In view of power scarcity, the government is encouraging solar water systems as it minimises the expenses of electricity or fossil fuel to heat water and reduce the environmental impact.
The Delhi Climate Change Action Plan 2010, prepared by Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta puts forth various actions to tackle global warming including making solar water heating a well accepted technology to reduce dependence on conventional sources of energy.
However, while the non-commercial sector has lapped up the opportunity to the subsidy available, only 55 systems have been so far installed by the commercial sector under the mandatory provision with total capacity of 2,32,000 LPD.
“We are taking steps to encourage the commercial sector to go solar in a big way. In the non commercial sector, we have decided that all the government houses will be provided with the solar water heating at 30 per cent subsidy from and rest through a 10 per cent increase in license fees for the occupant of the government house,” the official added.
This is one of the provisions under the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) in the city, which has been approved by the Cabinet.
