New Delhi: Over one lakh households in Delhi have signed up for free rooftop solar panels, and the installation is set to begin soon, CM Rekha Gupta said Wednesday, adding the govt wants to “turn every rooftop in the capital into a mini power station”.Under Delhi govt’s free solar installation scheme, eligible households consuming up to 400 units of electricity a month can have rooftop solar systems of up to 3kW installed at no upfront cost. The systems are being funded through combined central and state govt subsidies of up to Rs 1.6 lakh. The scheme will cover 2.3 lakh households in its first phase on a first-come, first-served basis. So far, around one lakh people in Delhi have registered to adopt solar energy.Speaking at Solar Plenary Session of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo here, CM said the govt was encouraging households to switch to clean energy under the subsidies being provided by the govt under PM Surya Ghar scheme.“Delhi govt, moving in step with the Centre, is equally committed to giving the capital a new identity in the field of clean energy. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is an important initiative towards achieving energy self-reliance. Taking this vision forward, Delhi govt is encouraging people to install rooftop solar systems,” said CM Gupta.Through the initiative, the govt seeks to “make every rooftop in the capital a source of clean energy, provide relief to every household in its electricity bills and make Delhi an example for the rest of the country in the field of solar energy,” CM said.In Sept, CM Gupta had launched Delhi PM Surya Ghar portal — solar.delhi.gov.in — under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Under the scheme Centre provides a subsidy of up to Rs 78,000, while Delhi govt provides an additional subsidy of up to Rs 78,000, taking the total assistance to Rs 1.6 lakh.
