Company Name : national institute of technology Surat(SVNIT) Source : http://www.karmayog.org/redirect/strred.asp?docId=26187

According to the FKCCI, there is a disparity between the actual amount of monthly solar rebate being given by the Escoms to consumers and the potential for the Escoms to earn carbon credits, by showcasing these solar water heaters as sources of green energy that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The FKCCI Energy Committee Chairman, Mr M.G. Prabhakar said that according to the norms, the power utility can earn nearly four tonnes of carbon credits, equivalent to €72 (roughly Rs 5,400) a year from every solar water heater with a capacity of 200 litres. The authorities have to take steps for earning these carbon credits.

They should first collect comprehensive data on the number of solar installations in different localities, their capacity and so on by conducting a survey, he suggested. If they take up carbon trading effectively, consumers with solar water heaters could be given a minimum rebate of about Rs150 a month, as against the present Rs 40 a month even if 50 per cent of the carbon credit earnings are shared with consumers, he said.

In other words, it should not be a problem for the utility to provide a minimum rebate of Re 1 a unit of power consumed by those having solar water heaters, he said.