TERI launches first-ever GIS tool to tap rooftop solar power

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) unveiled the first-ever cloud based open-source Web-GIS Tool for estimating Rooftop Solar Power potential for Indian Solar Cities. The main objective of this initiative is to develop a high performing and flexible Web-GIS tool to estimate the rooftop solar power potential for Indian cities. The first city where the tool will be launched will be Chandigarh, followed by other cities in India.

 

This initiative is being supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), with strategic support from Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The tool was launched at a conference on “Accelerated Deployment of Rooftop Solar PV systems in India” held in New Delhi today.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shivraj V. Patil, Governor of Punjab & Administrator, UT Chandigarh, said: “Solar energy is revolutionizing the world. Countries are investing in this sector because it is beneficial to the environment and also saves on energy costs.” He urged the private sector to take a leaf from solar initiatives in China, Europe and Japan and invest in solar devices, saying that manufacturing indigenous solar technologies by Indian companies could bring down the cost of solar products. He said the application of solar energy was easy and each household could now invest in solar products. There are cost-effective technologies available for mass generation and use of solar energy, he said. Patil said that land costs in cities had gone up, so there is a need to invest in rooftop solar devices. “We have taken a decision to install rooftop solar energy devices in government buildings in Chandigarh to become a model solar city,” he said. Patil added that government was already providing subsidies to the private sector to produce renewable energy.

 

Dr. Leena Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, TERI University & Honorary Executive Director, The Energy and Resources Institute, said: “If you look at international trends, Rooftop solar PV systems are here to stay. In Germany, about 25 per cent of energy generation comes from solar power and other countries too are investing in renewable energy.” She said that we have to face the challenges thrown up by this sector by investing in innovations while creating the right environment for policy regulatory frameworks. “We need coping strategies to deal with erratic and ineffective power systems with enabling mechanisms. It is important to bring the various stakeholders together, including local institutions, to take the process forward,” she added. 

Mr Chinmaya Acharya of Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, said: “The Green Revolution brought food security to India, while the White Revolution made India the largest producer of milk in the world. The time has come for a solar revolution in the energy sector as there is wide recognition about the impending energy crisis in India.” He said that costs of solar products have come down over the years, and rooftop solar devices have begun to have a significant impact on our renewable energy solutions. He added that the tool will aid viable business models and policy mechanisms to implement the project.

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