Chandigarh achieves record solar rooftop coverage high EV adoption & major carbon savings

Time of India

13-06-2025

Chandigarh: The UT is making an estimated annual saving of Rs 60 crore, and 80,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions are being avoided annually due to the increasing use of solar power energy and the increased penetration of electric vehicles.
Navneet Kumar Srivastava, CEO of CREST, said, "Several big projects are in the pipeline, including a 4 MW floating solar project. We would like to see solar providing 10% of the total electricity demand in the coming 2-3 years. For that, we are planning to find innovative solutions to land constraints in Chandigarh."
Besides installation, CREST is also trying to develop an ecosystem that combines skill development, the job market, and entrepreneurial ventures in solar power in the city and surrounding areas, added Srivastava.
Recently, Punjab governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, speaking at an event on recognising excellence in green energy achievements, said, "Clean energy is not merely a policy choice; it is a moral imperative.
By promoting innovation in the solar and EV sectors, we are not just investing in sustainable technology but also securing the future well-being of our coming generations."
Chandigarh emerged as the top-performing Union Territory at the regional awards event.
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Out of the nine awards conferred upon various govt agencies from Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, CREST stood out by securing the highest number of awards — four in total. These include the first state Implementing Agency to Complete Government Rooftop Saturation in India, excellence in PM Surya Ghar Implementation, excellence in Innovation – Floating Solar Project (largest & most innovative), and highest penetration in EV in the Region and Across India (calendar year 2024).
Chandigarh administration, through CREST, has integrated rooftop solar systems across govt buildings, installed floating solar plants on water reservoirs, and achieved one of the highest electric vehicle penetration rates in India. Its solar program alone powers approximately 7% of the city's electricity demand. Chandigarh became the first city in India to achieve 100% solar rooftop saturation across both govt buildings and govt houses by Dec 2024.
In terms of electric vehicle (EV) penetration, as per data from the VAHAN portal for calendar year 2024, Chandigarh ranked first in the country with an impressive 15.20% penetration, followed by Tripura (14.76%) and Goa (13.38%).
Government Rooftop Solar Sites | 6,627 installations
Govt Rooftop Installed Capacity | 52.852 MWp
Total Solar Installed Capacity (Govt + Private) | 89.689 MWp
Floating Solar Installed Capacity | 8 MW
Largest Floating Solar Commissioned in North India | 2.5 MWp
Annual Solar Generation of Chandigarh | 117 million units (MUs)
Estimated Annual Savings from Solar | ₹60 crore approx
CO₂ Emissions Avoided Annually | 80,000 tonnes approx
Model EV City
EV Penetration in Calendar Year 2024 | 15.20%
No. of EV Charging Stations Set Up by CREST | 35
No. of Battery Swapping Stations Set Up by CREST | 12
Incentive Amount Disbursed to Date | 35 crore
Applicants Who Received Incentives | 5,293
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