New Delhi: The Educational institutions in Delhi are switching to net metering in a big way, with over 500 schools and colleges installing rooftop solar panels to save energy and money. Leading schools and educational institutes, including those operated by the municipal corporation of Delhi, have opted for net metering connections with a total sanctioned load of over 20,400 KW. The Solar City initiative is promotes adoption of solar panels and more and more schools are becoming a part of this initiative.
A normal educational institute functions for around 230 days in a year, while the generation of solar power is for 310-320 days. The excess generation of around 80-90 days is exported to DISCOM and the amount is adjusted in the bill at end of the year. "Though the monthly and annual saving will vary from consumer to consumer depending on their solar capacity and hours of usage, their annual energy saving potential is around 30 percent," said a discom spokesperson. Rooftop solar net metering is an ideal method to reduce electricity bills. Essentially, educational institutions save around Rs 7,000 per KW every year, he added.
"Thediscoms have energised over 1,800 rooftop solar net metering connections with a sanctioned load of 65 MW. Around 500 of these connections are with the educational institutions," said a source.
Jamia Milia Islamia, Don Bosco Technical School, Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology, Vasant Valley, DPS Mathura Road, Tagore International, and DAV Public School are some of the institutions where solar net metering has been under use, said a source.