Haryana to encourage solar power use

As the power consumption in the state is on the rise, the Haryana government has decided to encourage use of solar power and other alternative sources.
The government has issued the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (Rooftop Solar Grid Interactive System based on Net Metering) Regulations, 2014 and suggested the use of grid interactive rooftop Solar Photovoltaic systems towards energy generation.
HERC chairman Jagjeet Singh today said the state is experiencing a substantial growth in its electricity demand and the discoms are finding it difficult to cope with this.
Besides, depending upon own generation and its share in central projects, discoms are procuring power from other sources, he said.

According to Singh, even after these arrangements, there is a shortage of electricity during peak load hours or paddy season.
Various industries and commercial establishments including malls, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes and housing complexes developed by the builders in cities and towns use diesel generators of various capacities raning from a few kilowatt to couple of megawatt for back-up power even during the day time, he said.

Under such conditions, use of grid interactive rooftop Solar Photovoltaic systems seems to be a feasible solution, he said.
He said that the Electricity Act, 2003 empowers the Commission to promote generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy by providing suitable measures for connectivity with the grid and sale of electricity to any person.

The Commission has decided to put in place the Rooftop Solar Grid Interactive System based on Net Meterin Regulations, he said adding that the regulations would also help the distribution companies to fulfill their solar renewable purchase obligations.
He said that all existing consumers of electricity in the state can avail the facility of installation of rooftop solar power system to offset part or all of their energy requirement on first-come-first-served basis as the initial target for installation of rooftop solar power system has been fixed as 200 MW.
The maximum rooftop solar system capacity to be installed at any consumer premises should not exceed his contracted load subject to a maximum limit of 1 MW, Singh added.