CEED’s report reveals Varanasi can generate 676 MW of Solar Energy
At a National solar conference jointly organised by CEED and ASSOCHAM UP held in Varanasi, the Vice-Chancellor of the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) Prof. Girish Chandra Tripathi and eminent journalist Ram Dutt Tripathi released a new report titled ‘Vibrant Varanasi: Transformation through Solar Rooftop’. The report highlights the holy city’s energy infrastructure and unveils its solar rooftop potential of 676 MW, which can be generated by using only 8.3% of Varanasi’s roof-space. The conference was also attended by representatives from government departments, industries, think-tanks, academicians and civil societies.
CEED’s CEO, Mr. Ramapati Kumar said that Transforming Varanasi through solar roof top programme is a vision to realise Varanasi as a green capital powered by clean and sustainable sources of energy like solar. This report comes at a time when the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has signed ‘Power for All’ scheme with the Government of India. The solar roof top programme in Varanasi shall bridge the gap between the ever-increasing electricity crisis and the rising tariffs. The fact that solar energy prices are lower than the conventional sources of energy, is the perfect solution to bring about an energy transformation in the entire Indo-Gangetic region, starting with Varanasi. As per the report, the suitable solar rooftop space is calculated to be around 8.01 sq. km, which includes unobstructed and shadow-free rooftop space receiving optimal sunlight for solar power generation. This area is capable of generating 676 MW of solar power. The report proposed the solar rooftop implementation for Varanasi in a phased manner. The first phase entails to achieve a solar rooftop potential of 300 MW by 2025. This shall not only reduce the burgeoning gap between demand and supply of energy, but shall also discourage the electricity generation through coal and diesel that is unsustainable, unreliable, expensive and pollution-inducing. By adopting solar, Varanasi will also be able to improve its air quality that has been deteriorating severely for the past few years.
The report reveals that residential buildings cover 2/3rd of the solar rooftop potential in Varanasi, followed by public and semi-public buildings which attribute to 17% of this potential. The transport sector, including the areas under airports, railway stations, bus depots and bridges, account for less than 1% of the capacity. The report presents a detailed plan for early adoption of solar roof top projects in Varanasi and recommends various scenario including business models and tariff structure. It also presents a compelling economic case for the government, commercial and industrial consumers and because of grid parity in this category, they can save anywhere between Rs. 0.80 to Rs. 1.45/unit.
It has been suggested that the governments need to provide fiscal support to residential consumers until it reaches the grid parity by 2020. Government buildings must be among the first movers and early adopters of solar roof top project in Varanasi because of geographic proximity to each other and the availability of large roof space for such projects.
Secretary General of ASSOCHAM UP, V.N. Gupta said that switching to solar is a more economical option for consumers considering its constant fall in prices. Investing in solar energy will not just be beneficial for the environment by reducing pollution, but is also cost-beneficial. Furthermore, solar rooftops will evolve as the ultimate urban energy solution and in turn, will also accelerate industrial growth in Varanasi.