Scaling-up solar PV in water supply services in Rajkot, India

The Rajkot Municipal Corporation, with support from the CapaCITIES project, installed a 145 kWp grid-connected solar PV system at the Aji water treatment plant. The installation, costing INR 8.5 million, was co-financed by the municipality and CapaCITIES. Between July 2018 and August 2019, the system generated 224,150 kWp of electricity and mitigated 184 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, providing nearly one-fifth of the plant's power needs. The project used online software for real-time monitoring of power generation and monetary savings, which helped build a business case for scaling the solution. Following this success, the municipality proposed a 250 kWp system at the Rajyadhar wastewater treatment plant and commissioned a feasibility study for other plants in the city.

• The solar PV installation at the Aji water treatment plant provides nearly 20% of the facility's power and has significantly reduced carbon emissions, mitigating 184 tonnes of carbon dioxide between July 2018 and August 2019.
• The use of online software for real-time monitoring of power generation and monetary savings was critical in establishing a 'business case' that encouraged the Rajkot Municipal Corporation to replicate the solar solution in other locations.
• A co-financing model between the Rajkot municipality and the CapaCITIES project increased municipal ownership and accountability, which the document identifies as a factor in ensuring proper operation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability.
• Water supply is the most energy-intensive municipal service in Rajkot, representing 61% of total municipal electricity consumption in 2015-2016, making it a high-potential area for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

APA

Verma, S. (2020). Scaling-up solar PV in water supply services in Rajkot, India. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Aji-Solar-Case-Study-2.pdf

Chicago

Verma, Simant. Scaling-up solar PV in water supply services in Rajkot, India. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2020. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Aji-Solar-Case-Study-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Verma |first1=Simant |title=Scaling-up solar PV in water supply services in Rajkot, India |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=May 2020 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Aji-Solar-Case-Study-2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{verma2020scalingup, author = {Verma, Simant}, title = {{Scaling-up solar PV in water supply services in Rajkot, India}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Aji-Solar-Case-Study-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }