Delhi unveils ambitious solar policy 2024 to revolutionise energy consumption

The residential consumers could potentially earn between ₹700 to ₹900 per month through the proposed generation-based incentives (GBI).

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the Delhi Solar Policy 2024, introducing significant incentives for consumers embracing solar energy. Domestic users installing rooftop solar panels will enjoy the perk of zero electricity bills, while commercial and industrial entities will benefit from a 50 percent reduction in tariffs upon installation. Kejriwal elaborated that residential consumers could potentially earn between ₹700 to ₹900 per month through the proposed generation-based incentives (GBI). Presently, under the existing power subsidy scheme, residential users consuming up to 200 units per month are already exempt from bills, while those consuming 201-400 units receive a 50 percent subsidy.

The crux of the new policy lies in the concept of solar power generated offsetting the electricity consumed from the grid. For instance, if an individual consumes 400 units but generates 225 units from solar power, they would incur a zero bill, as their consumption falls within the fully subsidised category of 200 units in the national capital.

Taking to the social media platform X, the chief minister reiterated that under the new policy, domestic consumers would have zero electricity bills and could potentially earn  ₹700 to ₹900 per month, whereas commercial and industrial consumers would enjoy a 50 percent reduction in their electricity bills.

Furthermore, the policy mandates all government buildings with an area of 500 square meters to install rooftop solar panels within the next three years. Currently, Delhi boasts a solar power capacity of around 1,500 MW, including 250 MW from rooftop installations.

Kejriwal has set ambitious targets, aiming to escalate Delhi’s total installed solar capacity to 4,500 MW by March 2027, with a goal of sourcing 20 percent of electricity consumption from solar power by that year. The government plans to allocate ₹ 570 crore for the implementation of the policy.

Under the new solar policy, residential consumers opting for rooftop solar panels will receive five financial incentives, including a GBI of ₹ 3 for small rooftop plants (up to 3 kW) and ₹ 2 for larger plants (3 to 10 kW) for five years from installation.

Moreover, the policy introduces innovative deployment models such as community solar for consumers facing fund or rooftop space constraints. Additionally, it introduces a peer-to-peer trading model, enabling owners of solar energy systems to sell excess generated electricity in real-time to other consumers in Delhi through a P2P energy trading platform.

Power Minister Atishi emphasised the development of a single-window state portal to serve as a comprehensive resource for information under the Delhi Solar Policy, encompassing the benefits of solar plants and empanelled vendors. The policy is slated to be notified within 8-10 days.