The Jaipur Development Authority is set to install 5 MW of rooftop solar capacity at six sewage treatment plants and two gardens along the Dravyavati River, a project officials estimate will generate nearly 72 lakh units of electricity a year and save about Rs 6.12 crore in annual power costs.
The installations are being implemented through Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, according to JDA Commissioner Siddharth Mahajan. The project will supply renewable power to sewage treatment plants and gardens associated with the river corridor, reducing the amount of electricity the authority needs to purchase from the grid.
Officials estimate that the plants will generate around 20,000 units of solar power every day, approximately 6 lakh units per month and nearly 72 lakh units annually. The projected savings are based on an average electricity tariff of Rs 8.50 per unit.
The six sewage treatment plants are among the key electricity-consuming public assets covered by the initiative. The project will also include two gardens along the Dravyavati River. The installations are expected to help meet a significant portion of the electricity requirement of these facilities through renewable energy.
Mahajan said the initiative marks an important step towards making JDA operations more sustainable and strengthening the authority’s focus on green energy, energy conservation and environmental protection. He added that the project would reduce the authority’s long-term power expenditure while supporting renewable energy use in public assets.
The agreement provides for the project to be operated and maintained for 25 years. An official said this arrangement would allow the JDA to continue benefiting from renewable energy and lower electricity expenditure beyond the payment period.
The authority estimates that the solar plants will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 5,227 tonnes annually. Over the 25-year operating period, the projected reduction is approximately 1.31 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The project also points to a wider shift in how urban authorities can manage the recurring energy costs of public infrastructure. Sewage treatment plants require continuous power for treatment and pumping operations, while public gardens need electricity for lighting, water supply and other maintenance functions. Generating power at or near these assets can allow the authority to use existing public facilities for renewable energy production.
If the initiative performs as expected, the JDA plans to extend rooftop solar installations to other public assets under its maintenance across Jaipur. The authority has not provided details in the supplied announcement on the locations, implementation schedule or capacity of any future installations.
The next stage will involve implementing and operating the 5 MW project at the identified sewage treatment plants and gardens. Its actual generation, savings and emissions performance will determine how far the JDA expands solar power across its wider portfolio of public assets.
