In a step towards reducing dependency on grid power, a first-grade degree college in a small town of Dakshina Kannada district has installed rooftop solar power generation system.

Panduranga Nayak, Principal of SVS First Grade College in Bantwal, told Business Line that the college expects to generate around 32 units of power with this system. The college has installed 32 solar panels of 8 kw at a cost of around ₹8 lakh for this purpose.

The average monthly power requirement of the college is around 2,000 units. With the rooftop solar panels having the capacity to produce around 960 units a month, the college wants to bring down its dependency on grid power by a half.

The college plans to supply excess power during holidays to the grid, Nayak said. The college has entered into an agreement with Mangalore Electricity Company (Mescom) Ltd in this regard. Mescom will buy power at a rate of ₹9.56 a unit, he said.

Nayak said that another objective of installing rooftop solar power in the college is to create awareness about solar power among students. If they influence their families to install solar power, it will be an important step in making them self-sufficient in energy consumption.

Based on the performance of this solar unit, the management of the college may consider setting up such rooftop solar power generation systems in its three other educational institutions in the town, he added.

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