Unified Web Portal for Rooftop Solar: Single-Window Clearance System for The Consumers
India has set an ambitious target of 100 GW of solar energy by 2022, and steps need to be taken to scale up the use of solar energy in the country. The institutional framework is currently not fully developed for large-scale solar rooftop development and deployment. For example, any consumer looking to install the solar rooftop system, may not have the detailed information available in one place such as the potential for installation of solar rooftop, area requirements, types of technologies, information related to major vendor/channel partners, processes/procedures to be followed for interconnection, availability of subsidy and finance.
Further, the DISCOMs and State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) also have limited manpower and skillsets which hinder the process of approving applications received from different consumers. There is a need for digitizing the complete process of application, approval, and implementation of GCSRP. Maintaining multiple web-based tools to address various issues of multiple stakeholders is not a viable option either. As a result, there was a need for developing a common integrated platform at a State level, which can display all the information at one single point, including transactions between multiple stakeholders. Such a platform will enable inter and intra stakeholder communication through a single online portal.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in association with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank is developing a unified web portal for rooftop solar, which will act as a single-window clearance system for the consumers looking to install rooftop solar panels. Furthermore, the portal will also help in promoting and creating awareness regarding the usage of rooftop solar in India.
The portal will provide all information related to the installation of the solar panel. There will be information as to what all agencies have to be approached, how to get clearance for installation of solar panels, what are the mandatory documents required, which companies are developers of solar panels and install solar panels, and information related to incentives and other benefits.
Suprabha TA program’s approach towards Unified Web Portal (UWP) development is based on a new architecture that encapsulates interconnection and subsidy process on a single framework thereby enabling seamless processing of consumers’ interconnection application and provide subsidy to eligible consumers.
