The current power shortage in the country leaves our society and economy squirming and sweating. However, we need not suffer helplessly. Whether we live in a bustling metropolis or a remote village, all of us have access to the one source that empowers the globe: the sun. By harnessing its immense power, solar power can be produced.

The debate over solar power’s technical feasibility, financial viability and the reliability of the devices at the current level of technological development has been squarely settled. Rarely does a problem open up to solutions that offer us multiple advantages.

Similarly, there is no debate over the fact that this is an ecology-friendly solution compared to burning conventional fossil fuels. We have the technology and the devices that can effectively harness solar power to empower citizens. Indeed, with the necessary political will and policy drive we can transform them from being helpless customers at the receiving end of the situation, to mini-power generating entities gainfully contributing their bit to the power grid.

Connected to the grid Whereas a detailed policy framework can be worked out at the national level through extensive consultation, the core concept involves allowing the individual rooftop solar power generating customer of the state-run or privately owned power distribution companies, the right to be grid-connected. This would facilitate full utilisation of the installed capacity on the rooftops of houses.

It would have twin advantages. First, when the customer is not using all the power generated from the rooftop device, the excess would be fed into the grid. Second, when the rooftop power generated is less than the customer’s demand, the grid would supply the balance.

The level of technical advancement in this field is such that even the conventional inverter can be converted into a power generator feeding into the grid at a nominal cost. It is really as simple as that.

It can be easily imagined that the challenge and conflict between power distribution companies and customers would magnify several times over when, in whatever small way, the individual customer also turns power producer. There are, however, models available for working out a practical and feasible arrangement. Cities in California generate multiple megawatts through multitudes of households that are integrated into the grid. These households have customer-producer relationships with power distribution companies. In Gujarat, the government has tried this model on government buildings, with a generation capacity of 5 MW.

Another option The other option is rooftop water heating, water harvesting and other techniques of recharging groundwater, water recycling and so on. Indeed, there is a strong case for integrating all these best practices into the process of construction activity, and making sure that these features become standard design practice. This can be made feasible and viable by offering creative financial and technical solutions within a holistic policy framework that is part of the overall regulatory structure for urban development.

To highlight the efficiency that can be achieved in this process, we have to remember that it takes anywhere between four to five years to erect a conventional power station; California added 1000 MW of solar power through rooftops in just one year. The simple question is if California can do it, why can’t Delhi?

The estimated potential of the Indian capital also runs into thousands of megawatts and the solar power industry has excess capacity as it groans under the pressure of cheap devices that are being dumped into the domestic market by China. Much of the power woes of Delhi this summer could be forgotten next summer if we take solid action on the solar front.

The writer is with the Resources Operating Group, Accenture India

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