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					</table>Global technology company <a href="https://www4.enphase.com/en-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enphase Energy</a> announced the commissioning of its first pilot project for Karnataka Public School, Kudur, Ramanagara District, Karnataka. Under this program, a 4 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) micro-inverter-based hybrid system to provide uninterrupted power supply to the entire school.
Supported by the Government School management and the Education Department, this is a part of <a href="https://trinitycarefoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trinity Care Foundation</a>’s (TCF) Integrated School Educational Infrastructure Development Program (ISEIDP), which forms part of Enphase India’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) related activities in India.
Enphase Energy has equipped the higher primary classrooms with desktops and projectors powered by the rooftop solar system. All the lights, fans, and computer systems are supported in case of power breakdown or failure. In the first step, the entire school was re-electrified with new cables for all the computers, and BESCOM (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company) meters were replaced with the latest digital meters.
The system is expected to generate around 15 units per day, taking care of the school’s power needs, especially for their students in the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades.
With the rooftop solar system, the school would save about ₹4,000 (~$50) on electricity bills every month and provide an uninterrupted power supply to run all their computers, video classes, internet, etc.
Gopalan Nair, Senior Director, Sales at Enphase Energy, explains the design and working of the system. &#8220;The conventional solar PV grid-tied system can’t generate energy during the outage. Hence, we needed to build a system with microgrid functionality to help during power outages. As the school operates during the daytime when enough sunlight is available, we wanted to harness maximum solar energy without much use of battery energy to let the battery have more load-handling capability. Further, the technology used in the modules is mono PERC which makes energy generation suitable in any climatic condition compared to other modules.&#8221;
Solar power can even charge the batteries when the generation is higher than the connected load; the energy will automatically run through the inverter in the reverse direction and charge the batteries. By designing the system with a microgrid feature, this configuration utilizes the energy which would have been unutilized because of the grid failure.
&#8220;Enphase has designed a reliable and safe system to deliver uninterrupted power at government schools and ensure unhindered education in the process,” said Binu Varghese, Director &#8211; CSR Non-Profit Consulting &amp; Project Management, Trinity Care Foundation.
Mercom recently <a href="https://mercomindia.com/rooftop-solar-for-ci-sector-can-earn-roi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hosted</a> the C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet 2022 in Bengaluru, bringing together rooftop solar industry experts and commercial and industry (C&amp;I) end users to discuss the benefits and challenges in the segment. One of the important discussion points highlighted the faster rate of entities can earn a 25-35% return on investment within a year of installing rooftop solar systems.
Milma, the state government-run cooperative dairy plant in Ernakulam, Kerala, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/keralas-state-run-dairies-opt-for-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">installed</a> a 2 MW captive solar project, which helped reduce their power bills from ₹4 million (~$50,471) to ₹1.5 million (~$18,926) every two months.

Karnataka School Saves Up to ₹4,000 on Monthly Bills with Rooftop Solar

The <a href="http://indianacademydubai.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian Academy, Dubai</a> recently partnered with <a href="https://cleanmaxsolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CleanMax Solar</a>, a rooftop solar developer,  to install a 192 kW rooftop solar project in the school.
The project is expected to generate 307,000 kWh of electricity per year and will help to cover 70% of the school’s electricity requirement, states the company’s press release.
The amount of clean electricity generated by the project is likely to help abate 135 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
According to the press statement, “On days when the solar power project produces more electricity than the school can use, the school can supply the excess electricity back to DEWA’s grid which can then be used as credits against the school’s future electricity bills.” DEWA’s (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) rooftop solar net-metering policy is called Shams Dubai.
Schools and educational institutes across the globe are warming up to the idea of utilizing the sun for their energy requirements. In India as well, an increasing number of schools and educational institutes have installed solar systems for sustainability. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/schools-colleges-going-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercom</a> earlier published an article that analyzed how solar – not coal – is beginning to power classrooms, dormitories and canteens of multitudes of educational institutions across the country. Solar power is heating water, helping run laboratories, shining auditoriums, cooling down canteens, assisting in administrative work and illuminating streetlights on school grounds. Due to surging electricity bills and the desire to protect the environment, a large number of educational institutions are turning to solar to meet their daily energy needs.
Recently, schools like <a href="https://mercomindia.com/st-xaviers-school-mumbai-rooftop-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">St Xavier’s</a> in Mumbai and <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iim-kozhikode-sainik-school-rajasthan-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sainik School</a> in Rajasthan have turned to solar power to fuel their energy needs economically.
The <a href="https://www.cseindia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Centre for Science and Environment</a> (CSE), a New Delhi-based research body, recently launched an initiative called ‘Solar in Schools,’ in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Image credit: CleanMax Solar

The Indian Academy Dubai School Installs 192 kW Rooftop Solar System

The Kerala Central Public Works Department (<a href="https://cpwd.gov.in/officeDetails.aspx?State=KERALA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CPWD</a>) has issued a tender for a grid-interactive 50 kW solar project at the <a href="https://www.iimk.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian Institute of Management’s Kozhikode</a> campus.
The project should be developed on an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis. It is estimated that the cost of the project will be around ₹3.7 million ($53,000).
The earnest money deposit amount for the bids is ₹74,244 ($1,062), and the commissioning timeline for the project is three months.
The original date of submission of bids for this tender was June 20, 2019. However, after contacting the concerned department, a representative stated, “This tender’s deadline has been extended by five days to June 25, 2019”.
In another announcement, the Rajasthan State Road Development Corporation (<a href="http://roads.rajasthan.gov.in/content/raj/roads/rsrdc/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RSRDCC</a>), has issued a tender for the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a 240 kW solar project. The project is to be developed at Sainik School in the Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan. The estimated cost of the development of this project would be around ₹12.4 million ($178,000), and the bidders have a three-month timeline for the commissioning of the project. The last date of submission of bids for this tender is June 28, 2019.
Of late, numerous schools and educational institutes have adopted solar technology in a bid to become more sustainable and meet their energy requirements economically. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/schools-colleges-going-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Previously</a>, Mercom published an article which analyzed how solar – not black coal – is beginning to power classrooms, dormitories and canteens of multitudes of educational institutions across the country.
For instance, in <a href="https://mercomindia.com/tender-2-mw-solar-iim-trichy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">February 2019</a>, the National Institute of Wind Energy had launched a tender to develop a 2 MW solar project at the Indian Institute of Management in Tiruchirappalli, located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
In <a href="https://mercomindia.com/punjabs-akal-university-solar-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">April 2019</a>, Punjab’s Akal university announced that it had installed a 1.2 MW solar project for ₹52 million (~$0.75 million). The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has provided a subsidy of ₹17 million (~$0.25 million) for this project. This was the largest solar PV project installed by a rural educational institution, according to the official statement of the Akal University.
Then in January 2019, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/tripura-university-installs-500-kw-rooftop-solar-system/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> on the news of Tripura University announcing the development of a rooftop solar system totaling 500 kW at its premises, spread over multiple buildings at the university campus.
In December 2018, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iit-indore-campus-422kw-rooftop-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> on the news of Indian Institute of Technology installing a 422 kW solar rooftop power system in its premises. The project was commissioned by <a href="http://bvgindia.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BVG India Ltd</a>, an integrated services company.
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IIM Kozhikode and Sainik School Rajasthan to Adopt Solar Power

Taking a cue from an increasing number of schools and colleges in the country that are turning to solar power, St Xavier’s High School in Mumbai has installed a 35 kW grid-connected rooftop solar project in its premises. The project has been commissioned by <a href="https://www.itsmysun.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MYSUN</a>, a rooftop solar solutions and services company.
The rooftop solar project will help the school save approximately ₹700,000 (~$9,726) every year on its electricity bill. The carbon emission reduced by the project is equivalent to planting 850 trees.
The extra electricity generated on weekends and school holidays will be exported back to the grid through net-metering.
“This is a remarkable achievement for all of us at St. Xavier’s High School, and I hope more schools follow the new age trend and go solar. Not just saving, the solar system will be an inspiration to our students and teachers who read and study about solar systems as a part of their curriculum. They will be able to see the system up close and we are sure will be the best ambassadors of the go green movement”, said Sharmila Sunny, Principal of St. Xavier’s High School.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/schools-colleges-going-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom recently reported that</a> solar – not coal – is beginning to power classrooms, dormitories and canteens of multitudes of educational institutions across the country. Solar power is heating water, helping run laboratories, shining auditoriums, cooling down canteens, assisting in administrative work and illuminating street lights on school grounds. Due to surging electricity bills and the desire to protect the environment, a large number of educational institutions are turning to solar to meet their daily energy needs.
In <a href="https://mercomindia.com/amity-installs-1-8-mw-solar-campuses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 2018</a>, Amity University installed rooftop solar PV projects totaling 1.8 MW across three campuses.
In <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iit-kharagpur-eoi-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May 2018,</a> IIT Kharagpur invited an expression of interest to develop 5.5 MW of solar projects.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/uttarakhand-gb-pant-university-rooftop-tender/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recently</a>, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Uttarakhand’s Pantnagar town tendered a 5 MW grid-connected rooftop solar PV project.
Solar initiatives undertaken by the educational institutions are setting a good example for the rest of the country. Not only will this make the country adopt a sustainable and economical source of power, it will support the overall growth trajectory of the rooftop solar sector.
In addition to individual institutions, some India’s state governments have taken the initiative to power their schools using solar energy.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/haryana-solar-hybrid-government-schools/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Last year</a>, The Haryana government announced it will install solar hybrid systems in all government schools of the state in a phased manner.
According to the latest quarterly report by <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/solarinstallations-q3-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Research</a>, India’s solar installations have reached 6.6 GW year-to-date with large-scale projects making up 5,382 MW and rooftop installations accounting for 1,240 MW. Rooftop installations in Q3 2018 accounted for 435 MW, which was a 5 percent increase from 415 MW installed in Q2 2018, and a 64 percent increase when compared to 265 MW installed in Q3 2017.

Mumbai’s St Xavier’s High School Turns to Solar, Installs 35 kW Rooftop Solar System

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has announced that it has become country’s first civic body to generate solar power through rooftop solar installations atop 55 of its buildings, earning a significant income in just three months by selling the surplus power generated to Delhi’s power distribution company BSES.
The civic body claims to have earned approximately ₹0.96 million (~$0.014 million) by selling its surplus solar power, according to news agency PTI.
SDMC plans to add rooftop solar installations to 111 buildings by June 2018 and to another 400 by June 2019. This will not only add revenue for the municipal corporation, but also help to improve the environment.
&#8220;The SDMC has become the first municipal corporation in the country to generate solar energy by installing solar panels on rooftops of its over 55 buildings to earn a huge income in three months by selling surplus power to a power distribution company,&#8221; the SDMC statement said.
SDMC Commissioner Puneet Kumar Goyal said that 0.11 million units are internally consumed by the municipal buildings. It generates a total of 0.314 million units, leaving an extra 0.2 million units to be sold.
“The municipality has invested ₹120 million (~$1.76 million) in the installation of solar rooftop projects on its building and this cost will be recovered in the next five years. As the installations generate energy for the next 25 years, revenue from selling the solar energy will boost the agency’s financial health,” he added.
At present, 54 municipal schools and community centres in SDMC are generating 2500 kW of peak solar power.
India plans to achieve 40 GW of rooftop solar as part of its broader goal of achieving 100 GW of solar capacity across the country by 2022.
According to the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-project-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Solar Project Tracker</a>, India has an installed capacity of ~2 GW of solar rooftop installations as of March 2018.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/report-municipalities-boost-rooftop-solar-bonds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom also previously reported</a> on a new study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) that advocates the use of municipal bonds to facilitate the achievement of this goal, and details how such bonds could be designed and implemented to support the scaling up of rooftop solar across the country.

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