Govt Deptts must spearhead solar rooftop revolution for a greener tomorrow

Srinagar, Dec 4: With Jammu and Kashmir's power generation capacity at a standstill, there is a growing call among government departments to adopt solar rooftop technology as a sustainable solution for their energy needs.

Experts suggest that the government should take the lead in this initiative, setting an example for others to follow.

Out of the approximately 4000 MW load registered with DISCOMs, KPDCL, and JPDCL, government-related entities, including offices, hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, defence installations, PHE, irrigation, and street lighting account for around 600 MW.

These establishments collectively consume nearly 15 percent of the energy, estimated at 3000 MU annually.

Officials indicate that the potential revenue from these establishments could be around Rs 1200 crore per annum.

“If only 50 percent of their energy needs are met through solar rooftops, the government could save approximately Rs 600 crore annually,” they said.

Experts have suggested the Power Development Department (PDD) take a lead role in installing solar plants.

Educational institutions like the University of Kashmir (KU), the National Institute of Technology (NIT), and the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have untapped solar potential in megawatts.

While solar energy's major drawback is its availability only during the daytime, experts propose proper planning and tariff regulations to overcome this challenge.

Electricity tariffs could be modified to be cheaper during off-peak hours, encouraging consumers to shift heavy loads to these times.

The implementation of the Time of Day (ToD) tariff, already approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), can help flatten consumer demand during peak hours.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has approved Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC) for J&K, emphasising the need for renewable energy systems in buildings with power loads exceeding 50 kW. However, the implementation of ECBC is still pending government approval here.

The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission has set a target of 10.5 percent solar energy as a minimum percentage of total consumption for DISCOMs, but the current solar energy consumption in J&K is less than 2 percent.

According to experts, the commission must set specific, time-bound targets for solar energy development by key entities like JKPDC, JPDCL, KPDCL, and JAKEDA.