Chandigarh, 27 February — Chandigarh’s solar electrification drive, covering nearly 6,000 government houses, has reached over 5,000 installations, but 818 houses have been deemed unsuitable due to tree cover obstructing panel placement, according to the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST).
A senior CREST official mentioned that despite high interest from residents, some houses face unavoidable challenges. “We have successfully installed solar plants in over 5,000 government houses, but 818 remain excluded due to dense tree cover blocking sunlight. These homes cannot accommodate solar panels under the current conditions,” he said.
The official added that no trees would be removed to facilitate installations, ensuring environmental preservation.
Apart from tree cover, another 550 houses are ineligible due to factors like low electricity meter load or non-allotment. Government houses are located in multiple sectors, including 7, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, and 39, with over 80% now solar-powered.
The installations are being carried out under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, with costs covered by the UT administration. Residents are charged a post-installation user fee of ₹300 per kilowatt, and each solar plant, with a 25-year lifespan, generates 300 units of electricity per month.
Under the Surya Uday Yojana, installations require a minimum electricity load of two kilowatts.
Chandigarh, with 6,200 government houses, has also installed solar panels in all major government office buildings.
Once installations on government houses are complete, the administration aims to extend the project to private buildings, targeting completion by December 2025.
To encourage adoption, residents can avail of capital subsidies (CFA) up to ₹78,000 for installations up to 3 kWp, significantly reducing electricity costs.
Chandigarh currently boasts an installed rooftop solar capacity of 69 MWp, aligning with its leadership in EV adoption, achieving 14.8% EV penetration between April and October 2024—the highest among Indian states and Union Territories.
