SmartPower’s successful and award-winning Solarize model for residential solar installations is now going global!
After months of discussions, pre-Covid-19 face-to-face visits, and Zoom meetings throughout the pandemic, SmartPower and WeeGreen recently reached agreement with two Indian utility companies: Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL). Through these joint partnerships, SmartPower and WeeGreen – and our on-the-ground partners in India – will use the Solarize model to expand the adoption of residential solar in New Delhi.
India is a global leader in renewable energy production. In recent years, investment in renewable energy sources has increased dramatically, and India now has one of the fastest growing solar industries in the world. However, India also has the second largest population in the world, and electricity demand is expected to triple by 2040. If the renewable energy industry does not expand at a commensurate rate, fossil fuel usage will rise dramatically.
In order to address the anticipated surge in energy demand, the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been setting ambitious renewable energy goals for the coming years. Prime Minister Modi established a preliminary target of generating over 40% of the nation’s total energy capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and that target is now expected to be far surpassed as the renewable energy industry skyrockets. The government of India also set forward a solar-specific target of installing 100 GW of solar energy by 2022. Of this 100 GW target, India hopes to generate 40 GW from rooftop solar units alone. In tandem with the nationwide push towards solar, the Delhi government has set its own target of generating 2000 MW in solar energy by 2025.
Of course, setting goals can be the easy part. Actually meeting them can prove more challenging. None of the solar energy objectives will be achieved without the rapid expansion of rooftop solar installation—and that’s where SmartPower and WeeGreen come in.
Working with a unique coalition brought together by the US Department of State, the Government of India through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the City of New Delhi, the local utilities; and a local non-profit partner, the Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), “Solarize New Delhi” will offer residents the opportunity to install rooftop solar on their homes using the same peer-to-peer, community-wide approach that has been so effective here in the US. Unique to New Delhi, the Solarize campaign will target owner-occupied homes to expand the types of residential installations beyond the typical large multifamily building. Indeed, the New Delhi campaigns have the same potential to provide the economic benefits for households, workers, the utilities, and the city at large that we’ve seen work so well in states as varied as Connecticut, Rhode Island, California, and South Carolina. Individual families save money on their utility bills and at the same time, the increased demand for solar installations will result in widespread job growth and economic development and reduced costs for solar. It’s a win-win-win for the residents of New Delhi. And, long-term – for our planet.
We’re thrilled to embark upon such an exciting new project that will be able to benefit the New Delhi community and help India reach its renewable energy goals. Keep an eye out for regular updates on our New Delhi campaigns!