PM Surya Ghar: All government buildings in India to be solarised by 2025

Government Offices in India Mandated for 100% Solarisation by 2025 under PM Surya Ghar Scheme

New Delhi: Government offices in India have been mandated to achieve 100% solarisation by 2025 under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. All government buildings under the administrative control of the Centre, states, and Union Territories must be equipped with rooftop solar systems. An official order to this effect has been issued to all Central ministries on Thursday, according to a source. The ministries can either install rooftop solar systems through the CAPEX model or the RESCO model, with the project being given top priority.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released operational guidelines for the installation of rooftop solar systems on government buildings under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

PM Surya Ghar: PSUs to Assist Ministries in Deploying Rooftop Solar

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) experienced in renewable energy technology deployment will be allocated on a nomination basis to assist Central Ministries in deploying rooftop solar on their assets. On July 17, NHPC Limited signed an agreement with Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) to deploy rooftop solar across government buildings. NHPC is one of the Scheme Implementing Partners (SIP) for this component of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. Other PSUs assigned as SIPs include NTPC, SJVN, Power Grid Corporation, THDC, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), NEEPCO, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), REMC Limited, and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN).

No central financial assistance will be provided to ministries and departments for these projects. "Under the scheme, all government rooftops under the administrative control of Central Government Ministries/Departments, including autonomous bodies and subordinate offices, shall be equipped with rooftop solar to the extent that is technically feasible by December 31, 2025. Ministries may utilize available rooftop space for this purpose through the RESCO mode or CAPEX mode, on a priority basis," according to the guidelines released by the MNRE.