New Mumbai buildings must have solar panels: MEDA

Soon new buildings in Mumbai are likely to sport solar panels on their roofs to supply power.

This is one of the major suggestions in the draft proposal that Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), recently submitted to the Urban Development Department (UDD).

"We have sent our draft proposals to UDD for energy efficiency and conservation in the new building norms," MEDA director-general, Anand Limaye, told PTI in Mumbai on Friday. "One of our proposals is to make it mandatory for all new buildings to have solar panels to meet 60 per cent of the buildings' out-door requirements. This includes lighting and even water-heating," he said.

If this proposal is implemented, it is expected that 10-12 per cent of the total power usage of new buildings would be reduced, he said.

The government plans to add 2,500 MW power from renewable energy sources in the next five-years. This includes wind, solar, bio-gas and bio-mass, he said.

MEDA has zeroed in on 31 places where sugar mills can produce power from bio-gas, he added.