• Data Collection

The most pivotal part of the Solar Cities Programme is the data collection to represent the cities’ baseline consumption pattern in order to make forecasts accordingly. The data collected would be an adequate representation of existing city scenarios like consumption patterns, trends in fossil fuel demand and supply, individual household energy facts, as well as giving an overview of renewable energy and energy efficiency know how in the sample survey population. Based on data provided by the municipal corporation and sample surveys the strategies for each city would be drafted and conceptualized. Recognizing the significance of thorough data sets, a large portion of the master planning contract period is devoted to data collection in each city.

• Data Analysis

Data collected would go through intensive analysis to assess the conventional energy use trend and pattern in each city. An expert technical team would analyze and forecast the projected demand of energy supply for the period 2008-2013. Renewable energy resource assessment and technology penetration would be addressed as well.

• Drafting of Master Plans

The prodigious task of drafting the master plan includes not only the detailing out of intricate city information aptly but also to meet the “implement ability” criteria emphasized by MNRE. This ensures a very minute examination of information, facts and figures stated in the master plan.

Case Studies in the Master Plans:
Case studies are currently being conceptualized for every project city. These case studies are 4-5 sites or project locations that could eventually be considered as demonstration sites or models. These sites are chosen as typical representatives of crucial target sectors in cities such as hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, residential apartments, and office buildings. Case studies are an important implementation criterion in the Solar Cities’ Master plans. If implemented, they would serve as exemplary initiatives for the rest of the city infrastructure to follow suit.

• Stakeholder Meetings

The stakeholder meetings are organized at two levels in the process of master planning for Solar Cities. The first stakeholder meeting is convened at the beginning of the programme to discuss the issues of data collection and sample surveys. The main objective of the first stakeholder meeting is to discuss the provisions of the MNRE Solar Cities scheme and chalk out a plan for adequate data collection. The sample survey is thoroughly discussed.

The second stakeholder meeting is a crucial step towards finalization of the master plan. It would entail discussion of the draft master plan prepared by ICLEI South Asia and suggestions for amendments put forward by the stakeholders. The second stakeholder meetings for respective cities would be scheduled after completion of the draft master plans.