A new building code rolled out by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings and office spaces could drive renewable energy adoption, provided states incorporate it into local building bylaws.

The BEE has issued the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) 2024, which establishes standards to enhance energy efficiency in commercial and office buildings. A key feature of the code is its emphasis on enabling solar integration at the design stage, encouraging developers to account for renewable energy systems early in project planning.

Under the new code, buildings are required to include provisions for installing renewable energy systems, either on rooftops or on the building premises, to meet a minimum renewable energy contribution linked to overall energy demand. The ECSBC 2024 applies to buildings with a connected load of at least 100 kW and a minimum contract demand of 120 kVA.

Although ECSBC 2024 is a national code, compliance must be enforced at the state and local body level. The code will become mandatory only after states formally notify it and integrate its provisions into their building bylaws.

Renewable energy and construction sector experts note that, depending largely on state-level adoption of the new codes, ECSBC 2024 has the potential to significantly boost solar adoption in commercial buildings, but its impact will depend largely on state-level adoption and effective implementation.

What has Changed

ESCBC 2024 builds on the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) issued first in 2007. According to the Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, 24 states and union territories had notified ECBC as of October 2023.

ECBC is India’s baseline energy code for commercial buildings, focusing mainly on reducing operational energy use through requirements for the enclosure, lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and electrical systems.

Under ESCBC, buildings in the ECSBC+ category must provision renewable capacity equivalent to at least 7.5% of the total contract demand within designated renewable energy zones. For buildings classified under Super ECSBC, the minimum renewable capacity requirement rises to 15% of the total contract demand.

Increased Solar Segment Involvement

The ECSBC 2024 could help position solar as a structured priority within India’s infrastructure and real estate sector, according to Sharvil Dave, Founder and CEO of Ataru Renew Power, a renewable energy solutions and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company.

Dave stated that the integration of solar at the design stage will result in many real estate projects hiring solar consultants early on to ensure compliance and optimize system integration.

“They (building designers) will have to consider providing shadow-free areas for the solar systems, arranging metering, installing separate MCBs for solar power, providing ducting and earthing provisions, and arranging anchor fastening on the roof,” Dave said.

Design Changes

The code requires reserving space for dedicated renewable energy-generating zones and for a circuit breaker to support future solar or renewable installations.

Buildings that comply with ECSBC 2024 will undergo considerable changes compared to earlier designs.

A senior executive of a solar EPC company stated that such buildings will include more solar-ready roof designs. “The use of energy-efficient systems will grow, and the adoption of monitoring and battery solutions will increase as well.”

Early integration will also result in significant visual changes. “Architects can design terraces that can integrate solar installations and their accompanying systems more aesthetically,” Dave added.

For certain buildings, including those in the hospitality and healthcare sectors, the code prefers solar water heating. Such buildings in all climatic zones must have solar water-heating equipment installed to provide at least 60% of the total hot-water design requirement, unless they have already installed solar systems.

Advantages

Integrating clean energy into the design phases can yield multiple long-term benefits.

Cleaner building designs can reduce electricity demand and lower energy costs. Lower loads will, in turn, require smaller solar systems, inverters, and storage facilities, making the overall energy system more affordable and easier to integrate.

“By mandating energy-efficiency measures and renewable integration, the code will reduce operational costs, lower carbon emissions, and push buildings toward net-zero readiness,” said the senior executive.

Adaptability Challenges

Beyond the code’s intent, the real challenge lies in adaptability and implementation.

According to Dave, adaptability to the new code will take time.

While calling for greater design collaboration early on, the senior executive highlighted the importance of integrating rooftop structural load limits, shading from surrounding structures and services, and stricter documentation, testing, and commissioning requirements into building design. The code could pose challenges for smaller vendors. The higher standards for certified components, detailed engineering documentation, testing, and compliance audits will increase costs and project complexity.

The senior executive added that smaller vendors with limited engineering and financial resources or weaker quality assurance processes may struggle to meet these expectations, potentially causing market consolidation toward better-resourced EPC contractors.

Developers are more likely to prefer partners with proven engineering capabilities, safety records, and quality assurance, which will likely result in experienced EPC contractors capturing a larger share of new business.

Awareness

Adherence to the code will depend considerably on awareness among solar solution providers and real estate developers.

According to the senior executive, “Large developers and corporate clients generally understand ECSBC 2024 and its implications better. Architects, MEP teams, and engineering firms are becoming more familiar with the basics of solar integration.”

Dave said the awareness level among architects, real estate developers, and MEP consultants regarding ECSBC is very low.

Increased Interest

Despite limited awareness of ECSBC and uneven enforcement, stakeholders foresee increased interest in commercial real estate among solar solutions providers.

“The commercial segment is expected to see heightened interest from solar firms because ECSBC creates predictable, scalable demand,” said the senior executive.

Dave expects the effects of the new code to become apparent in solar sales in the next two or three years. “The code will help to bring more business in the B2B format. I (a solar solutions provider) will be giving direct advice at the time of development to the real estate developers, architects, and other architectural consultants.”