Chandigarh Administration and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have together finalised the draft plan for converting Chandigarh city in Northern India into a ‘solar city’. The plan will now be submitted to UT Administrator General SF Rodrigues for approval, after which it will be forwarded to the Centre for the final approval. The project will be funded by the Government of India and Chandigarh Administration or the Municipal Corporation.
According to the draft plan, finalised by the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) and the Department of Science and Technology, certain changes have been recommended for 20% of the commercial, residential and government buildings.
“After a long analysis, we have eventually finalised our plan for the solar city project. We have enlisted our recommendations, which were corroborated by TERI representatives in a meeting today. Since TERI also recommended the same changes, the plan stands final and will be forwarded to the Centre through the UT Administrator,” Manjit Brar, Director of Information Technology, UT Administration, said.
While the short-term impact of energy conservation and reduction of greenhouse gases will start showing by 2012, the long-term impact would be visible by 2018.
By 2012, the plan aims at around 10% reduction in the current energy consumption. This reduction is expected to double by 2018.
“Short-term targets for energy conservation are based on the energy conservation options identified in the energy audit,” a senior official associated with the project said.
According to budget estimates, the Administration would require INR300 million INR350 million per year till the completion of the middle-phase (by 2012) of the project. The draft plan also mentions the construction of prototype buildings in the city, which would promote energy conservation.
A ‘Solar City Cell’, which may be established within the Municipal Corporation, may also take advantage of the grant being provided by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to design a few pilot energy efficient buildings in the city, in accordance with the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC).
“To meet the growing energy needs of Chandigarh, optimising energy conservation and resource efficiency is needed, which would reduce the per capita electricity demand,” a senior official said. “It would ensure a cleaner environment with reduced greenhouse gases and other pollutants.”