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Photovoltaic power station:

A photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park, is a large-scale photovoltaic system designed for the supply of merchant power into the electricity grid. They are differentiated from most building-mounted and other decentralised solar power applications because they supply power at the utility level, rather than to a local user or users. They are sometimes also referred to as solar farms or solar ranches, especially when sited in agricultural areas.

The power construction soucre is via photovoltaic modules that convert light directly to electricity. This differs from the other large-scale solar generation technology, concentrated solar power.

Photovoltaic power stations are typically rated in terms of the DC peak capacity of the solar arrays, in mega watt-peak (MWP), or of the nominal maximum AC output in megawatts (MW) or mega volt-amperes (MVA). Most solar parks are developed at a scale of at least 1 MWP. The largest operating photovoltaic power stations have capacities of hundreds of MWP; projects up to 1 GWP are planned.

Most of the existing large-scale photovoltaic power stations are owned and operated by independent power producers, but the involvement of community- and utility-owned projects is increasing. To date, almost all have been supported at least in part by regulatory incentives such as feed-in tariffs or tax credits, but capital costs have fallen significantly in the last decade and are expected to progressively reach grid parity, when external incentives may no longer be required. 

To plan and work on solar energy projects in a big way, a master plan for model solar city was prepared through The Energy & Research Institute (TERI). As per this master plan, there is a short term target of roof top based SPV power generation of 5 MWp in 12th five year plan (2012-2017), and long term target is fixed at 10 MWp in 10 Years. 

Solar City: The Concept


A "solar city" is an urban area that aims to:

 

•       Reduce dependence on fossil fuels for its energy needs

•       Limit emission levels to sustainable levels even while maintaining the desired socio-economic development growth

 

SOLAR ENERGY INITIATIVES/STRATEGIES TO BE ADOPTED

 

(A)   Solar Photo Voltaic Power Generation(Grid Connected)

(i)                     Roof Top Based Solar power Generation

(ii)                    Use of Landfill site  for Solar Power Generation   

 

(B) Solar Water Heating System

(C)  SPV Street Light system in Parks, Gardens etc.


Chandigarh : Model Solar City :

MNRE (G.O.I), New Delhi has selected Chandigarh to develop as Model Solar City through Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST). Master Plan for Model solar City was prepared by   The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI).  The  Master Plan of Solar City has been approved by MNRE, GOI in Jan/12.


Department of Science & Technology, UT Chandigarh through CHANDIGARH RENEWAL ENERGY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PROMOTIONAL SOCIETY (CREST) is the Nodal Agency for executing Solar & other RE Projects.



Rooftop Based Solar PV system:


As per Master plan, the short term target (3 years, 2014) for Rooftop Solar PV System is 2.5 MW and long term target is 10 MW ( 10 years, 2022) 

As per Master Plan of Model Solar City, following targets are proposed. These targets are based on the detailed energy audits in the Chandigarh and renewable  resource potential assessment.


Targets in order to develop Chandigarh as a Model Solar City


Sr. No.

 Description  

Targets

Short Term

Medium Term

Long Term

(till 2014)

(till 2017)

(till 2022)

1

Energy Conservation*   

Reduction in present energy consumption

1.1

Residential sector   

10%

15%

20%

1.2

Commercial sector   

10%

15%

20%

1.3a

Municipal sector (Water pumping)   

5%

8%

12%

1.3a

Municipal sector (Street lighting)

10%

20%

25%

2

Coverage of solar water heating systems (as a proportion of total heating demand in residential and commercial sectors)   

10%

25%

45%

3

Roof Top solar energy based electricity generation

2.5 MW

5.0 MW

10.0MW *

4

Large solar energy based electricity generation at Landfill site

3.0 MW

5.0 MW

5.0 MW

5

Large solar energy based electricity generation at Patiyala ki Rao site  

5.0 MW

15.0MW

25.0MW

 

GHG emission reduction (tCO2 /annum)

90973

214051

404969

* The above Rooftop SPV Plant target has been recently revised and increased to 30 MW by 2022.

Progress so far:

The Department of Science & Technology, UT Chandigarh has established a “ Solar City Cell: in CREST and has developed capacity building through interactions/ Seminars Field Visits of other Solar Plants in Country. CREST is preparing Detail Project Report (DPR) for Grid Interactive Power Plant in house and sending it to MNRE, GOI for sanction.
 Chandigarh as Model Solar City was formally launched by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Hon’ble Minister, MNRE, GOI on 3rd July, 2013 with the inauguration of two Roof top Grid Interactive SPV Plants at Paryawaran Bhawan sector 19-B Chandigarh ( 50 kWp) and at Model Jail, Burrail (100 kWp).



As on today, around 5.2 Mwp Roof top SPV Plant has been commissioned on more than 99 Govt. Buildings of UT Chandigarh. This has put Chandigarh on 3rd position overall in entire Country among all States & UT in Rooftop Solar Plant installation, In terms of Government intervention, UT Chandigarh is at number one position. Another one plant of overall capacity 1000 kWp at Punjab Engineering College, Sec-12, Chandigarh, has been commissioned recently. CREST has been able to install rooftop SPV Plant on 35 Govt. Schools of UT Chandigarh in 2014-2015.
Besides this, CREST has installed Rooftop SPV Plants on 19 Government residential houses for demonstration purpose.



Solarcity on Map


Source: http://crestchd.org.in/, CREST