Rooftop solar power concept spreading in Tamil Nadu

An increasing number of industries and commercial establishments in Tamil Nadu are offering their rooftops and lands in return for cheaper solar power, according to the Tamilnadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA), the implementing agency for solar power programmes in the state.

With the cost of power continuing to rise, businesses are opting to cut energy costs by either setting up rooftop solar power generators or leasing out rooftops or adjacent lands foe setting up solar power modules.

Speakers participating in a solar conference held to unveil the TEDA-sponsored 'Renergy 2014' event, stressed that the so-called 'opex model' is fast catching up in the state.

'Renergy' is an annual conference of renewable energy held by TEDA. The 2014 edition of Renergy will be put together by UBM India, a company that specialises in organising exhibition-cum-conference events.

''Most companies want to use capital in their core business and not in power,'' noted Pashupathy Gopalan, who heads the India, Asia-Pacific and Africa operations of the American company, SunEdison.

It was SunEdison that put up a 100 kW solar plant on the roof of Standard Chartered bank's captive BPO office building in Chennai in March 2012. The company is now putting up a 160 kW rooftop project for the Murugappa group company, Tube Investments, also in Chennai.

Refex Energy, another company that builds solar plants, said it has orders for over 5 MW, where the company would own the assets and sell the electricity.

Several textile units are also putting up solar plants with an eye on the tax-saving 'accelerated depreciation' benefit, while several others just want electricity.

And, despite reduction in power tariff under the 'solar purchase obligation' mandated by the Tamil Nadu government that would soon be effective, a lot more are joining the solar power bandwagon.

The SPO has been challenged in courts.

Another Chennai-based company, ARC Power Consultants, acts as middleman between industries that have land or large roofs and need electricity with companies that look to invest in solar plants for 'accelerated depreciation'.

The government of India has approved a modified scheme on `Energy Efficient Solar/ Green Buildings' for implementation during 2013-14 and rest of the 12th Plan.

The main objective of the scheme is to promote the widespread construction of energy efficient solar/ green buildings in the country through a combination of financial and promotional incentives, and other support measures so as to save a substantial amount of electricity and other fossil fuels apart from having peak load shavings in cities and towns.

The objective will be achieved by providing promotional incentives for the construction of green buildings for creating awareness by organising workshops, seminars and trainings for engineers, planners, builders, architects, consultants, housing financing organisations and potential users and besides, for development of technical literature, compilation and publishing of documents related to solar/ green buildings and installation of renewable energy projects/systems in the green buildings.