Energetica India nº91 July August 2020

Now Consumers in Chattisgarh Can Get 1kW Solar Rooftop System in Rs 24,000 In a significant development for the rooftop solar sector in Chattisgarh, consumers will now have to spend just Rs 24,000 for getting 1 kW rooftop solar system (RTS) installed under Capex mode, post government subsidy. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is providing 40 per cent subsidy on 1KWp to 3KWp rooftop solar system and 20 per cent subsidy on above 3KWp to 10KWp RTS sys- tems in the state. This was after Chattisgarh State Renewable Energy Develop- ment Agency (CREDA) discovered Rs 40,000 per kW rate for capacity range between 1 kW to 10 kW, in response to a tender floated for the empanelment of System Integrators (SIs) for in - stallation of grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (GRPV) system under phase II of MNRE program. Notably, the rates discovered by CREDA were lower than the benchmark rates set by MNRE for various categories between 1 kW to 10 kW, above 10 kW to 100 kW, and above 100 kW to 500 kW for FY20. The below table displayed the cost difference: 13 energetica INDIA- July-Aug_2020 NEWS NATIONAL However, MNRE had, recently, reduced benchmark costs for FY20-21 for GRPV systems. But these will be applicable for all the vendors and developers to be empanelled after July 31, 2020 by the implementing agencies in the states/UTs. Despite, Chattisgarh has discovered quiet competitive rates as compared to the MNRE’s newly reduced benchmark costs as well. Earlier, in the CREDA-floated tender for installation, commis - sioning with COMC of 1 kWp to 500 kWp under GRPV of MNRE phase-II, around 36 System Integrators (SIs) had applied, in which Zenbi Energy Pvt Ltd has emerged as the successful bidder by quoting lowest rates of Rs 40, Rs 38 and Rs 36 re - spectively for all the three categories. CREDA has been authorized by Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Ltd (CSPDCL) for the implementation of rooftop solar projects under MNRE’s phase-II GRPV program. If we compare from other states for 1 kWp to 10 kWp category, Rs 37/Wp was achieved by Delhi’s IPGCL and UP’s PSPCL, and Rs 38/Wp was discovered by UP’s UPNEDA in recent ten - ders. While, other states achieved higher rates as compared to Rs 40/Wp discovered by Chattisgarh state. On the number of empanelled vendors for the discovered rates, Sanjeev Jain, Chief Engineer, CREDA, told Energetica India that “Zenbi Energy quoted lowest rates and we have re- ceived consent/ acceptance of these rates from about 20 Sys- tem Integrators.” The government is providing subsidy, even though, in many cases installers faced financing issues due to several reasons such as liquidity crunch, or delay in subsidy reimbursement from the MNRE. On this, Jain told to Energetica India, that “we are also trying to tie up with banks for finance on grid connected rooftop solar system for both Domestic and Commercial & Industrial (C&I) consumers. Here we will play a role of intermediary to bring both lender and consumer to the table for discussion.” “MNRE sanctioned Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for 5 MW capacity for Domestic category,” he added. While asking about how CREDA is mulling to encourage, both domestic and C&I consumers towards installing rooftop solar systems, Sanjeev Jain told Energetica India that “we are look- ing for various ways to inform consumers about benefits of in - stalling rooftop solar plants and cost saving. The various ways could be sending SMS on mobile phones and providing direct links from where interested people can get complete details easily, uploading information on website, spreading awaress through various media channels etc.” Speaking on the achievement, Rahul Gupta, Assistant Engi- neer, CREDA, and Certified Energy Auditor, BEE, commented that, “The rates are good and we are expecting more installa- tions this time so that we will be able to achieve the targets.” Meanwhile, SUPRABHA program has been actively engaged with the state’s nodal agencies/ Discoms in promoting govern- ment’s solar promotion programs such as supporting in finaliz - ing net metering regulations, research and identify commercial impact from GRPV system installation etc.