TERI STUDIES INDIA'S SUN

TERI team to study UT's solar energy potential
11 February 2009 (Times of India)

"…[A] team from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is now in [Chandigarh, Union Territory (UT)] to study its energy potential [as a “solar city”] so that a detailed action plan could be prepared.

"…[E]xperts are carrying out an exercise in Patiala Ki Rao to get an idea as to how much photo-voltaic energy could be tapped from the city’s green belts…"

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"…TERI was supposed to submit a detailed feasibility report this month, [but the previous year’s] energy database… was not available…[so] the study would be conducted in different parts of the city before the details are worked out…

"The project to prepare a Solar City master plan for Chandigarh was assigned to the institute in June, 2008. With growing concern on climate change, it has become imperative to utilize renewable sources of energy…TERI is now adopting an integrated planning approach…

"As part of the initiative, use of passive building concepts in new buildings and rating of new buildings would be promoted…[as well as] exploring…energy conservation and extensive use of renewable energy wherever possible…The solar city programme envisages optimum utilization of locally available resources like solar energy…"

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"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 (PV) plant. Therefore a segmented approach would be adopted and size of each unit would vary from 1 to 5 MW…

"…12 gardens have been identified in the city, which are over 18 acres in area, for setting up mini solar plants…"