The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to expand its rooftop solar energy programme with plans to install photovoltaic systems on 989 municipal buildings. The move is aimed at cutting electricity costs and reducing reliance on conventional power sources.According to officials, the project will be implemented in collaboration with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC. The rollout will follow the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, where the installation, operation, and maintenance are undertaken by the implementing agency. The agency is reimbursed through a fixed tariff for each unit of power supplied, as agreed in a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).The proposed installations could collectively add 10 to 15 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity. However, this is contingent on the results of a detailed investment-grade energy audit to be conducted across the identified buildings.Currently, MCD operates 574 rooftop solar photovoltaic plants across various buildings under its jurisdiction. These installations, spread across the erstwhile South, North, and East Delhi municipal corporations, together account for a total capacity of 13.25 MWp. Among these, 26 rooftop plants with a combined capacity of 1.08 MWp were commissioned under an earlier agreement with NVVN between 2022 and 2024. The tariff under that contract was
₹4.72 per unit of electricity.The civic body aims to leverage existing spare capacity—estimated between 10 and 15 MW—available from NVVN’s ongoing rooftop solar projects, particularly those on Delhi Police buildings under the Ministry of Home Affairs. By utilising this surplus capacity, MCD expects to fast-track the solar installation across its buildings without major delays.Officials indicated that the indicative tariffs for the new installations could range from
₹4.25 to
₹4.92 per unit, depending on the rooftop capacity of individual buildings. These rates are seen as more economical compared to proposals submitted earlier by IPGCL, the Delhi government-owned power utility, which have since been set aside.The proposal to expand the rooftop solar programme is scheduled to be discussed in the upcoming MCD House meeting on Thursday. If approved, the project will be rolled out across a variety of buildings including municipal schools, community centres, office complexes, and other civic facilities.The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had designated NTPC as the Renewable Energy Implementing Agency for Delhi in January 2024. The mandate was intended to streamline and accelerate solar energy adoption across public sector properties in the capital.The current initiative is in line with India’s broader climate goals under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. India aims to derive 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and reduce its emissions intensity by 45 per cent from 2005 levels.Officials from MCD emphasise that this solar expansion will not only contribute to operational savings but also reinforce municipal efforts to comply with national sustainability targets. Once completed, the new installations are expected to significantly expand the city’s decentralised solar generation capacity, reducing pressure on the central grid.The MCD has been looking at ways to rationalise energy spending, particularly in its education and public health departments, where utility costs make up a significant portion of recurring expenses. With predictable tariff structures and lower long-term costs, solar energy offers a viable solution for budget-conscious civic administrations.This step represents one of the largest municipal-level solar energy expansions proposed in Delhi to date. If implemented as planned, it may serve as a reference model for other urban local bodies seeking to scale renewable energy adoption through public-private collaboration.