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Pune University turns on solar power route for 111 colleges
Colleges are now equipped to install a 10 kilowatt-capacity solar power installation, which will produce enough electricity for their own consumption, eliminating electricity costs and saving expenditure.
Having received the funding, colleges affiliated to the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) are now taking a big step towards eco-friendly self-sufficiency - producing their own electricity through solar power.
Dr Shrirang Bathe, deputy registrar of SPPU and head of QIP, said, “The project funding for 228 out of a total of 868-affiliated colleges under SPPU, had been sanctioned last year. These colleges had proposed to either install solar units or expand existing panels.”
Out of these 228 colleges, funding now has been given to 111. “A total amount of almost Rs 11 crore has now been sanctioned to these colleges for the solar power project,” he added, “Rs 5 lakh to each.”
This funding has been given under the Quality Improvement Programme (QIP). In addition to this, colleges themselves will also have to invest Rs 1.5 lakh for the project.
Colleges are now equipped to install a 10 kilowatt-capacity solar power installation, which will produce enough electricity for their own consumption, eliminating electricity costs and saving expenditure.
As per the plan, the entire process will allow the colleges to generate 50 units of electricity per day.
Dr Bathe said, “The idea behind this move is to encourage the colleges to go green in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. Once we received the proposals our energy studies department then visited the sites to survey and prepare a feasibility report to specify which systems should be installed, how much energy can be produced and whether the project would eventually be feasible for the colleges.”
For the project to be approved, colleges are also required to have enough space for installation. “Also, colleges with their own property, i.e. not on rented premises, along with a full-time principal, will be approved for the project,” he said.
SPPU administration had taken the decision to incentivise colleges for installing solar panels and included solar panel installation in the list of approved expenses under QIP. The installation can be done in three types of systems - grid tied photovoltaic (PV) system, off-grid system and hybrid system.
Stating that this will not only cut down expenditure of colleges, but also become a source of income, Dr Bathe added, “Solar power projects will save electricity and in case more power is generated, it can also be sold to electricity companies. Despite their initial investment, colleges will also be getting a 30 per cent subsidy from the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (Meda), on the total cost of the project, which will eventually render the project free for these colleges.”
