The solar cities program is being implemented in 60 cities across 26 Indian states

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released ₹259.2 million (~$4.07 million) as funds for the solar cities program as of December 31, 2017. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Minister for Power, R. K. Singh, said, “Total fund of ₹1.01641 billion (~$0.02 billion) have been sanctioned for the implementation of the solar cities program.” The solar cities program is being implemented in 60 cities across 26 Indian states.

The Master Plans of 49 solar cities have been prepared and stake-holders’ committees have been constituted in 21 solar cities. Solar city cells have been created in 37 solar cities, added Singh in his reply.

Singh’s statement also mentioned, “Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects with aggregate capacity of 8069.16 kW and solar water heating systems with aggregate capacity of 7894 meter square collector area have been approved under the solar cities program.”

The Government of India in January 2014, had approved the implementation of MNRE’s development of Solar Cities Program. The selected cities under the program are required to submit reports on half yearly basis as per the details given in their Master Plan.

Per MNRE, an evaluation of the experience of implementation of the program will be undertaken at the end of 12th Five-Year Plan and further extension and inclusion/calibration of program activities will be decided.

Mercom had recently reported Delhi’s BSES launching the Solar City Initiative to boost rooftop installations in the city.

Image credit: By WiNG (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons