Solar City: To Meet Growing Energy Demand in India

by Abhijit Banerjee on January 31, 2010

in Solar Energy, Sustainable Living in India

To meet the rapid rise in demand for electricity in Indian cities, 60 cities are proposed to be developed as “Solar Cities” during the 11th Plan period. The plan is to convert one to five cities in each state to a solar city which will be backed by the ministry of new and renewable energy with financial support up to Rs 50 lakh for each solar city. The cities covered under the plan will have more than 5 lakh and less than 50 lakh population.

Master plan

All state governments will be required to prepare a master plan, set up institutional arrangements for the implementation of the master plan, awareness generation and capacity building activities. The Master Plan will have a minimum target of reduction in their energy consumption by 10% from the existing level and consequent reduction in CO2 emissions.

Nagpur in Maharashtra is slated to become the solar city by 2012, deriving up to 10 percent of its energy consumption through renewable energy sources and implementing other energy efficiency measures.

Japan to set up solar city in India

While Japan has recently shown interest in setting up a solar city in India, the government is in talks with other developed nations to attract investment in India’s renewable energy sector.

Solar cities will have energy systems for street lights, garden lights, traffic lights, hoardings and include solar water heaters. Energy efficient ‘green buildings’ will also be promoted in large scale.

Watch video Solar City in Linz