CHENNAI: Electricity and Transport Minister SS Sivasankar on Friday launched Veettukku Oru Solar, a State-wide campaign to promote rooftop solar power generation, along with a digital tool called Rooftop Solar Explorer.
He also inaugurated a Tamil Nadu Renewable Energy Land Portal to facilitate the sourcing of barren land for renewable energy projects.
The initiatives are aimed at accelerating the adoption of rooftop solar systems by households, reducing procedural delays and enabling consumers to take informed decisions.
The Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) has been implementing a range of measures to expand green energy generation. Officials noted that while the Greater Chennai Corporation area alone has an estimated rooftop solar potential of about 11.64 GW, installations so far account for only around 60 MW.
The Rooftop Solar Explorer software tool has been developed by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy based on a tripartite memorandum of understanding with Asar Social Impact Advisors and TNGECL (formerly Tangedco). The tool uses GIS-based drone imagery of buildings within the Chennai Corporation limits, combined with electricity consumer data.
By entering their electricity service connection number on the portal, consumers can instantly assess the solar capacity that can be installed on their rooftop, the level of solar radiation available, estimated costs, expected reduction in electricity bills after installation and the time required to recover the investment.
The tool is available in both Tamil and English. Net metering facilities continue to be extended to domestic consumers to encourage rooftop solar adoption, officials said.
The Tamil Nadu Renewable Energy Land Portal will function as a single-window facilitation platform for landowners willing to lease out barren land for renewable energy projects.
Farmers and landowners can register land parcels, while developers can identify suitable sites. The initiative is expected to provide landowners with a stable lease income for up to 30 years and support the State in meeting its renewable purchase obligation targets.
Assess your solar potential by entering the electricity service connection number on the rooftop solar explorer portal, www.rts.tngecl.org, consumers can assess the solar capacity that can be installed on their rooftop, the level of solar radiation available, estimated costs, expected reduction in electricity bills after installation and the time required to recover the investment.
TN currently ranks fourth in renewable energy capacity.
The State has set a goal of meeting 50% of its requirement from RE sources by 2030, this will reduce overall carbon emissions by up to 70%
GCC area alone has a rooftop solar potential of 11.64 GW
Installations so far account for only around 60 MW