G.O. (Ms.) No. 17, Installation of Solar Energy Systems, 2016 (2016)
The Government of 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 applicable development regulations and requires solar photo voltaic panels to be installed before a completion certificate and net metering service connection are issued.
What the government order changes
G.O. (Ms.) No. 17 dated 5 February 2016 varies the Development Regulations for the Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026 and the Development Control Regulations for specified local planning areas. The Housing and Urban Development [UD4(3)] Department introduced the requirement prospectively to promote grid connected solar energy.
The solar requirement applies to buildings classified as:
- Special Buildings.
- Group Developments.
- Multi-Storeyed Buildings.
Areas covered
G.O. (Ms.) No. 17 applies under the jurisdiction of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the Director of Town and Country Planning. The listed local planning areas are Erode, Vellore, Tiruvallur, Coimbatore, Madurai, Gummidipoondi, Kancheepuram, Salem, Chengalpattu, Tirupur, Tiruchirappalli and Mamallapuram.
The same regulation must also be followed in the Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi local planning areas and must form part of the master plans to be approved for those areas.
Main requirements
G.O. (Ms.) No. 17 sets the following conditions for covered buildings:
- At least one third of the total terrace area must be reserved for solar photo voltaic panels.
- The approximate panel space needed to generate 1 KW of electricity is 10 square metres.
- In multi-ownership buildings, the generated electricity must be used for common needs such as staircase lights, setback lights, lifts, pumps and non-floor space index areas.
- In single ownership buildings, the generated electricity may be used for all purposes.
- Tamil Nadu Energy Regulatory Commission net metering guidelines apply to every covered installation.
Approval and connection consequences
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or the relevant local planning authority must verify that the solar photo voltaic panels have actually been erected. A completion certificate for a covered building can be issued only after installation.
The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited will provide a net metering service connection only after the building has obtained that completion certificate. Buyers, owners, developers and professionals dealing with a covered development should therefore confirm that the required terrace space and solar installation are included in the building plans and completed before seeking final certification.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does this solar requirement apply to every house?
G.O. (Ms.) No. 17 makes solar energy systems mandatory for Special Buildings, Group Developments and Multi-Storeyed Buildings. The source does not state that the mandate applies to other building categories.
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 order gives an approximate requirement of 10 square metres for generating 1 KW of electricity.
Can a covered building get a completion certificate before installing the panels?
No. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or the relevant local planning authority may give the completion certificate only after the solar photo voltaic panels have been erected.
How can the solar electricity be used in an apartment building?
In a multi-ownership building, it must be used for common electricity needs such as staircase lights, setback lights, lifts, pumps and non-floor space index areas. Tamil Nadu Energy Regulatory Commission net metering guidelines also apply.
