G.O. (Ms.) No. 17, Installation of Solar Energy Systems, 2016 (5 Feb 2016)
The Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development [UD4(3)] Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 17 dated 5 February 2016, making solar energy systems mandatory prospectively for Special Buildings, Group Developments and Multi-Storeyed Buildings under the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the Director of Town and Country Planning. It amends the Chennai Metropolitan Area Second Master Plan 2026 and development control regulations for specified local planning areas.
Purpose and effect
The Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development [UD4(3)] Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 17 dated 5 February 2016 to require solar photo voltaic systems in specified categories of buildings. The requirement applies prospectively to Special Buildings, Group Developments and Multi-Storeyed Buildings under the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the Director of Town and Country Planning.
The government order varies the Development Regulations of the Second Master Plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Area 2026. It also varies the Development Control Regulations for the local planning areas of Erode, Vellore, Tiruvallur, Coimbatore, Madurai, Gummidipoondi, Kancheepuram, Salem, Chengalpattu, Tirupur, Tiruchirappalli and Mamallapuram.
Areas and buildings affected
Property owners, developers and professionals dealing with Special Buildings, Group Developments or Multi-Storeyed Buildings in the covered planning areas must account for the solar requirement in building design and completion approval.
The same regulation must also be followed in the Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi Local Planning Areas. It is to form part of the master plans approved for those areas.
Main requirements
G.O. (Ms.) No. 17 dated 5 February 2016 sets out the following requirements:
- At least one third of the total terrace area must be reserved for solar photo voltaic panels.
- The approximate space required to generate 1 KW of electricity is 10 square metres of solar photo voltaic panels.
- In multi-ownership buildings, generated electricity must be used for common requirements such as staircase lights, setback lights, lifts, pumps and non-floor space index areas.
- In single ownership buildings, generated electricity may be used for all purposes.
- Tamil Nadu Energy Regulatory Commission net metering guidelines apply to the installations.
Completion certificate and electricity connection
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the relevant local planning authorities must verify that the solar photo voltaic panels have actually been erected. A completion certificate may be issued only after their erection.
The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited will provide a net metering service connection only after the building has obtained the completion certificate. The government also directed publication of the appended notification in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
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Common questions
Which types of buildings must install solar panels?
The requirement applies prospectively to Special Buildings, Group Developments and Multi-Storeyed Buildings under the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the Director of Town and Country Planning.
How much terrace space must be kept for solar panels?
A minimum of one third of the total terrace area must be reserved for solar photo voltaic panels. The stated approximate space requirement is 10 square metres for generating 1 KW of electricity.
Can a building receive a completion certificate before installing the panels?
No. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or relevant local planning authority must issue the completion certificate only after the solar photo voltaic panels have been erected.
What can the generated solar electricity be used for?
In multi-ownership buildings, it is for common electricity requirements such as staircase lights, setback lights, lifts, pumps and non-floor space index areas. In single ownership buildings, it may be used for all purposes.
