The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is set to amend its building bylaws, making solar panel installation mandatory for all residential properties with plots of 100 sqm or more. Under the proposed regulations, these properties will need to generate at least 1 kW of solar power. If a building fails to incorporate solar panels, it will not receive a completion certificate. This new policy aims to align with the state government’s initiative to transform Ghaziabad into a “solar city.”
The proposed changes come shortly after the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) implemented similar guidelines under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. The GDA’s move is part of the Uttar Pradesh government’s broader strategy to have Ghaziabad meet more than 10% of its electricity requirements from solar energy by 2027. The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has identified the city’s potential to generate 2,858 MW of solar energy from rooftops across residential, commercial, industrial, government, and educational buildings. Residential properties alone have the potential to generate 2,014 MW of solar power.
The GDA’s mandate will allow homeowners to take advantage of government subsidies for solar panel installation. The central government offers a subsidy of Rs 14,588 per kilowatt for residential rooftops, with additional state-level subsidies up to Rs 30,000 per KW. Net metering will also allow homeowners to send excess energy back to the grid for credit during billing cycles. With solar energy being 30% cheaper than conventional power, these measures are expected to boost the adoption of renewable energy and move Ghaziabad closer to its goal of sustainable urban development.
