In a move reflective of the nation’s shift towards renewable energy sources, Oberoi and Trident hotels in Gurgaon have switched to solar power to fulfill their energy demands. This will help the hotels in reducing their carbon emissions by 12,344 tons annually.

A captive solar PV project in Balasar, Haryana will be supplying 7.5 MW of power to meet the energy demands of the two hotels. The solar PV power project has 27,000 polycrystalline modules installed and is spread over 25 acres of land.

Talking about the initiative, Abhishek Panshikar, General Manager, The Oberoi, Gurgaon, said, “We are proud that our Gurgaon hotels are now operating on 100% solar power. This is our small way of giving back to Mother Nature and providing our guests with a sustainable luxury experience.”

Adding to this, Amit Khare, General Manager, Trident, Gurgaon said, “Surveys have shown that guests prefer to stay in environment-friendly accommodations. This is equally an important priority for us.  With this in mind, our guests will be pleased to know that they are now staying in a hotel that is fully powered by solar energy.”

Of late, various educational institutions have also undertaken the initiative to adopt solar PV as it helps in providing cheap power sustainably. For instance, in April 2019, Akal University in Punjab’s Bhatinda installed a 1.2 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project for ₹52 million (~$0.75 million). Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow installed 1.1 MW of solar projects helping the institute save approximately ₹6 million (~$85,646.99) annually in energy expenditure. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) added a new grid-connected solar power project on its premises, taking the total installed solar capacity in the university to 6.5 MW.

Moreover, Tripura University also installed rooftop solar systems totaling 500 kW at its premises, spread over multiple buildings at the university campus. It was the first university in northeast India to have installed a solar project of this scale.