Greenpeace and Bridge to India has estimated potential of nearly 275 MW Roof Top Solar Potential in Patna.

"Bridge to India's comprehensive analysis of the current power scenario of the state concludes that, in the long run, a large-scale adoption of solar power in Patna can be a key building block to an affordable and reliable power supply.

"Bridge to India's modelling revealed Patna has the geographical potential to install around 759 MW of rooftop solar. This is twice the current India-wide installed rooftop solar capacity.

"The solar rooftop market is a great opportunity for companies and investors, offering innovative sales, operations and financing solutions. Analysts at Bridge to India have envisaged a roadmap for Patna to help meet its energy demands by adopting solar in a phased manner.

"The city could add 275 MW by 2025 without significant technical challenges, storage requirements or dedicated grid investments. Thus, solar could meet about 20 per cent of the city's power requirement."

Patna could start producing up to 35 MW of solar energy in the initial phase by using the roof space on government and industrial buildings.

"The Solar Rooftop revolution for Patna is not just a report but a vision to realize Patna as a green capital powered by clean and sustainable sources of energy like solar," said CEED programme co-ordinator, Akanksha Upadhyay, "This report comes at a time when the new draft of urban development policy recognizes the programme for solar rooftop projects. 

Government buildings are key

Significantly, government buildings, due to their proximity to each other and large roof space, facilitate a bundling of projects that can enable larger project sizes.Large solar systems reduce the per-kW cost considerably, making solar already viable for government buildings. Hence, there is clear viability for solar power in Patna without long-term capital subsidies, as the scenarios in the report illustrate.