As TERI was supposed to submit a feasibility report in February 2009, lack of latest energy database based on 2008’s was not available with it. So, the study would be conducted in different parts of the city before the details are worked out.
A TERI spokesman said that with the growing concern on climate change, it has become imperative to utilize renewable sources of energy. After turning Gandhinagar into a solar city, TERI is now implementing an integrated planning approach to make Chandigarh a solar city.
The spokesman said that as part of the initiative, use of passive building concepts in new buildings and rating of new buildings would be promoted, apart from exploring possibility of energy conservation and extensive use of renewable energy wherever possible by switching to cleaner energy sources. The solar city programme envisages the maximum utilization of locally available resources like solar energy. It also aims at energy conservation and enhancing energy efficiency.
After analyzing the land-use pattern and variation in solar radiation over the city area, TERI has already recommended that it wouldn’t be financially viable to install a single solar plant. Therefore a segmented approach would be implemented and size of each unit would vary from 1 to 5 megawatt, the spokesman said.
As per the plan, 12 gardens have been identified in the city, which are over 18 acres in area, for setting up mini solar plants. Solar unit would be spread over more than 31.1% of any park, the spokesman added.
