Sanchi: Benefits and challenges of India's first solar city
Sanchi, a UNESCO heritage site, is India's first "solar city" as part of the country CO2 emissions reduction goals. The city in Madhya Pradesh faces unique challenge of becoming a pioneer in renewable energy technology.
Transcript
00:00 Saachi, in Madhya Pradesh, is first and foremost famous for its Buddhist supas which make it
00:07 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
00:10 But now Saachi has another claim to fame.
00:13 It's India's first solar city.
00:15 It draws all its electricity from a 3-megawatt solar plant, which cost the central government
00:21 the equivalent of some 2 million euros.
00:24 In addition, the town is equipped with solar-powered e-charging stations, water kiosks, solar
00:30 streetlights and nearly two dozen rooftop solar systems.
00:34 One of these is being installed on Rataram Sarathe's roof.
00:38 He's retired and welcomes the chance to save money.
00:41 "I was told that it would produce 3 kilowatt of energy, that's roughly 15 units per day.
00:48 I only use 5 to 10 units per day.
00:51 I thought I would give the rest to the central grid, so I'll recoup the costs."
00:59 He gets to save 500 rupees, that's about 6 euros a month.
01:04 He's halved his electricity bills.
01:08 The solar city project is based on a private-public partnership model and will reduce CO2 emissions
01:14 by some 14,000 tonnes per year.
01:17 All the public buildings in Sachi, which has a population of 8,000, now have rooftop solar
01:23 panels.
01:24 Other states are lagging behind in comparison.
01:27 "In a big state like Uttar Pradesh, the installed rooftop solar capacity in 2022 was only about
01:37 260 megawatts, against a target of 4,300 megawatts by 2022.
01:43 Even though we do have subsidies and incentives available, say under the national solar program,
01:49 but targeting those in the right manner and investing in raising the consumer awareness
01:55 levels and making them understand the benefits of going for a particular solution is something
02:02 that is key."
02:04 As a designated solar city, Sachi is a showcase project and is a pioneer in renewable energy
02:10 use.
02:11 But the general public still has a lot to learn about solar technology.
02:15 Radharam Sarate has many questions about his new solar unit.
02:20 "They should at least tell us how to clean it and maintain it and how often.
02:26 We are supposed to clean it with water, but they didn't tell us how or when.
02:31 Look how much dust has settled on it."
02:36 Two years ago, the government launched an educational program in conjunction with the
02:41 Solar City Project.
02:43 The public is taught about the importance of saving energy, the role of renewable energies
02:48 and also about their economic benefits.
02:51 "The idea is that all the individuals are to be made aware of how to minimize your consumption
02:59 and is there any way in which you can use equipment, you can design your houses, you
03:03 can design your toilets in which you have a least of consumption of energy."
03:07 PhD student and part-time store owner Vikas Tomar took part in the outreach program.
03:15 But he's not convinced that an online training is the best way to get locals on board.
03:20 "The form was easy, but it was an online process.
03:25 So some people face difficulties.
03:27 Even though most people are well-versed with online processes these days, people in villages
03:32 and rural areas aren't.
03:35 If it had taken place offline, more people could have enrolled."
03:40 Teaching people about renewable energy, getting them to change their habits and transforming
03:46 a town the size of Saachi clearly can't happen overnight.
03:55 Bihari Lal Sen drives a solar-powered three-wheeler.
03:59 For him, switching to an e-vehicle made sense because it saves him money.
04:04 "There's a 50 per cent benefit.
04:09 The solar-run batteries are much more efficient than diesel."
04:17 Two solar-powered charging stations were set up in Saachi in July.
04:21 For the time being, the charging infrastructure is only rudimentary and few people here have
04:26 made the switch to electric vehicles.
04:29 But experts understand the challenges and are keeping sight of the bigger picture.
04:34 "Any transition will not be a linear process.
04:39 A country as huge as India, as you said, the entire country as a whole is transitioning
04:44 through each stage.
04:46 Different sectors, states, sections of society will transition at different paces.
04:51 While the power sector transition is at relatively more advanced stages, the mobility and the
04:58 industrial sustainability transition is still unfolding."
05:04 In Saachi, the mood is optimistic.
05:07 Now that it has its solar city status, it's looking to move away from fossil fuels across
05:12 every sector of the economy and become a net-zero city, starting with a 5-megawatt solar plant
05:19 that will mainly supply the agricultural sector.
05:24 "We are not resting on only the present consumption, but we are also looking at replacing the complete
05:31 agricultural consumption also.
05:33 Because in the long run, we are looking for a net-zero city.
05:36 So this is not the first that we want to be declared as a solar city, but we want to make
05:41 it the first net-zero city in the world."
05:45 As the country's first solar city, Saachi can lead the way for other places in India
05:50 and also point out the main difficulties.
05:53 And of course, transferring the project to a larger city will be a challenge in itself.
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