Solar Power Solutions for the Education Sector

With India witnessing rapid development in the Education sector, a large number of schools, colleges, universities etc. shall be constructed to cater to the ever growing population of students in the country. The rapid infrastructural development for the same shall lead to higher pressure on the energy demand of the country.

With most of the existing educational infrastructure of India being solely dependent on conventional energy, the need of the hour is to shift to more conventional sources of energy like solar power to meet this ever rising energy requirement.

Solar Idea Tspl has therefore started working to spread awareness and provide customized solar power solutions to the Education sector in India and overseas. The company believes that the cost of energy is one of the few things that can be reduced without negatively affecting classroom instruction. By being more energy efficient, schools/colleges/institutes can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions and improve the students’ learning environment. Schools, colleges & other institutes can then use the savings from improved energy performance to help pay for building improvements and other upgrades that enhance the learning environment.

An Overview of the Energy Usage by India’s Education Sector

  • India’s 10, 83,210 elementary schools spend billions of rupees annually on energy; more than what is spent on computers and textbooks combined. As much as 30 percent of a school’s total energy is used inefficiently or unnecessarily
  • India has 152 central universities, 316 state universities, and 191 private universities. Other institutions include 33,623 colleges functioning under these universities and 12,748 Institutions offering Diploma Courses. India's higher education system is the third largest in the world, next to the United States and China. Billions of rupees are being spent every year to cater to the energy demand of these colleges and universities
  • The Education Industry in India is largely dependent on conventional sources of energy for meeting its power needs

Benefits of adopting Solar Power by schools, colleges & institutes

  • Reduction in electricity bills - The per unit cost of electricity from the grid shall rise with the impending rise in cost of non-renewable fuel in the future. The only alternative for educational institutes to reduce their high cost of electricity consumption is to generate their own electricity through solar
  • No extra space required – The solar panels to be installed in the Solar PV system only require open spaces which are readily available on school rooftops. Off Grid systems eliminate the use of batteries thereby requiring minimal space for the PCUs/inverters in the system
  • Power Saving for other applications – Many institutions in Tier 1 Cities, have fully AC premises and high power IT labs and equipment which increase their electricity cost drastically. Adopting solar can help in huge reduction in power costs for these applications as well, with lesser load on the authorities
  • Grid tie or On Grid PV systems prove to be best options – The maximum power consumption of an educational institute take place during the daytime. The Su-Kam Grid tie solar system which eliminates the use of batteries completely is the best option for such institutions
  • Adopting an eco-friendly approach – Many schools/colleges or universities can contribute and set an example for other universities and its students for adopting an eco-friendly approach towards power consumption. There is a vast scope to improve energy efficiency in schools and universities. Several studies have shown that avenues to curtail energy use to the extent of 30-50% in end uses such as lighting, cooling, ventilation, refrigeration, etc.

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