The Centre has identified Bangalore and 59 other cities and towns in the country for large-scale shift to solar energy to power street lighting.

According to a plan drawn up by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Bangalore and the other identified cities will be developed as model solar-powered cities in cooperation with local municipal bodies. In these cities solar power will be used for street lights and at other public places. “The ministry, in its emphasis on encouraging the public to tap non conventional energy sources, will extend financial assistance up to Rs 50 lakh to each city. This financial assistance is apart from capital subsidies as per various ongoing schemes run by the ministry,” said Vilas Muttemwar, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy.

As far as Bangalore city is concerned, the minister told Deccan Herald that his ministry would prepare a detailed project report in coordination with the state renewable energy corporation and initiate talks with Bangalore City Corporation on the implementation of the model solar city initiative. If more fund were  required to implement the initiative in the city, the centre would consider the requirement favourably, he said.

“However, it was up to the municipal body to implement the initiative on a mission mode,” he added. 

The minister said that the Centre is upgrading its research and development work on the promotion of renewable energy with the objective of bringing down the solar power generation cost which at present is the main impediment to go for solar power in a big way.

At present, the cost of producing 1 mw of solar power is about Rs 20 crore as compared to Rs 5 crore for thermal power generation.

The government plans to add 14,000 mw of renewable energy in the 11th Five Year Plan, taking the capacity from renewable sources to 25,000 mw from the present 11,000 mw.