With the help of solar energy and energy storage, two government schools near Bengaluru are running computer classes without power interruptions.

Due to the irregular grid power supply, the schools in Doddaballapura and Chikkabanavara in Karnataka were unable to run computer labs.

Frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations also led to concerns about damage to the equipment.

The Trinity Care Foundation, an NGO involved in schools, suggested that the two schools install a 5 kW solar system with energy storage for an uninterrupted power supply.

The NGO, with the help of Enphase Energy, set up the rooftop solar systems powering the computer labs. The solar systems are accompanied by 3.7 kW Enphase energy storage systems with lithium-ion batteries.

While the nature of solar energy remains intermittent, by using energy storage, the schools are able to store the solar energy and draw power as needed.

“Students in rural schools are deprived of computer education. Even though these schools had computer labs, they were not using them because the power supply was not reliable. They were also scared that the computers would get damaged if they switched them on,” said Tony Thomas, Trustee at Trinity Care Foundation.

The NGO also provided more computers for the schools.

In all, 944 students from these two schools are benefiting from the computer labs run with solar energy.

Each solar system was set up at the cost of ₹1.9 million (~$21,793).

Using the stored energy, the schools now run 12 computers in each school and are taught by staff from the Foundation.

So far, the NGO has solarized 42 schools across India by installing solar systems with storage solutions.

Several educational institutions and small and large businesses are increasingly switching to clean energy solutions. To create awareness about solar energy and help consumers transition to clean energy sources, Mercom India hosts a multicity ‘C&I Clean Energy Meet’ series. These events are designed to provide commercial and industrial energy buyers with the knowledge and tools to adopt clean energy solutions and lower their power costs. The next Clean Energy Meet event will be held in Jaipur on September 19, 2025.