The Uttar Pradesh government has installed rooftop solar systems with 40 kW capacity at 60 state Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in the state. Similarly, solar systems with the same capacity will be installed at another six institutes by the end of September 2021.

Currently, 305 industrial training institutes are operational in the state, with over 119,000 students.

Kunal Silku, the director of Vocational Education and Skill Development, said, “We have also proposed installing solar systems at another 12 industrial training institutes. Most of these institutes are in rural areas, and installing solar systems will provide an uninterrupted power supply to facilitate students in their practical training and experiment work.”

According to Silku, the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has undertaken the work of installing the rooftop solar systems at the institutes. A 40 kW solar system costs the department around ₹5.2 million (~$70,620). However, these systems also help the institutes save around ₹325,000 (~$4,413) annually in energy bills.

Last year, the Asian Development Bank approved a $430 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) to improve the reliability and quality of power supply in Uttar Pradesh. The funding is expected to be utilized for the Uttar Pradesh Power Distribution Network Rehabilitation project, which will improve the sustainability and efficiency of the electricity supply in the state.

Educational institutions are increasingly turning towards going solar to save on costs and also reduce their carbon footprint.

Earlier this month, the Punjab Energy Development Agency invited bids for the installation and commissioning of 243 grid-connected rooftop solar systems (5 kW capacity each) with an aggregate capacity of 1.215 MW at various government schools and district institutes of education and training in the state.

Similarly, Jai Narain Vyas University (JNVU) issued a request for selection (RfS), inviting bidders to set up a 1 MW rooftop solar project with a net metering facility under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Nalanda University is also planning a 5 MW (AC) grid-connected solar power project at its in Rajgir, Bihar.