December 7,2024 - The Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024, introduced last week, allows people without rooftops or suitable spaces to access solar power. The new policy offers virtual net metering and gross net metering.

Virtual Net Metering

This allows multiple consumers in the same license area to set up a collective solar power system and draw power individually.

Gross Net Metering
This caters to a single consumer who sets up a solar plant at one location and uses the power at multiple locations.

Solar Rooftop Promotion
The policy will also make provisions in urban building by-laws to promote and facilitate solar rooftop installations.

Experts Weigh In
Anshuman Gothwal from the Centre for Energy, Environment and People (CEEP) welcomed the move, saying it makes solar power more accessible. However, he emphasized the need to balance the interests of power companies and the long-term sustainability of the sector.

Challenges for Discoms
Currently, power companies struggle to recover costs from solar electricity generation, which ranges between Rs 2.1 to Rs 3.45 per unit.

Other States Progress
Virtual net metering is already available in Delhi, with Odisha and Maharashtra planning to implement it soon.

Incentives and Industry Benefits
Sunil Bansal, President of Rajasthan Solar Association, praised the policy's ambitious goals. He highlighted that it includes incentives for solar storage and green hydrogen, benefiting both industries and consumers.

Source: The Times Of India