NDMC Sanctions 200 MW Solar Power Procurement to Tackle Electricity Shortfall

In a move to address the electricity shortfall, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has approved a proposal to procure 200 MW of solar power, according to NDMC officials. The decision was made at the council meeting.

The meeting saw NDMC Vice-Chairperson Satish Upadhyay administering the oath to the newly elected MP Bansuri Swaraj as a member of the NDMC, alongside the newly appointed Chairperson Naresh Kumar. Several proposals were given the green light during this session, with solar power procurement being a key highlight.

The council approved the procurement of 200 MW of solar power through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), as part of its ISTS Tranche-XI, on a long-term basis for 25 years. The statement released post-meeting detailed that the tariff for supply, discovered through Tariff-based Competitive Bidding and based on the Standard Bidding Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power, is set at INR 2.61/kWh plus INR 0.07/kWh for SECI's trading margin.

NDMC member Kuljeet Singh Chahal emphasised the council's efforts to secure a daily supply of 525 MW from various sources, including solar systems, hydro plants, and other facilities. The maximum power demand in NDMC during the summer peaks at 450 MW per day.

Chahal further highlighted that the NDMC is procuring 100 MW of electricity from the Delhi government's Bawana and Himadir plants under the Pragati Power Corporation Limited-I and III, respectively. Additionally, the NDMC is generating 11 MW of electricity from solar systems installed on 1,100 rooftops of government buildings, including 23 municipal schools, NDMC, and CPWD buildings. Another 55 MW is being procured from the public sector undertaking Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

This initiative aligns with the NDMC's ambitious goal of transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy sources by the end of 2025.