Bantwal college in Mangaluru to sell power to Mescom

MANGALURU: Treading in the footsteps ofa few green-centric educational institutions in the district, Sri Venkataramana Swamy College too has installed a solar power grid of 8kW capacity on its campus.
The institution takes pride in being the first college in Bantwal taluk to generate green energy.
At a time when the state is suffering blackouts and load-shedding, the new facility has come as boon to this college, situated 20 km from the city."Every Tuesday, we have to endure a full day power cut. The recent power outages have made contemplate and we installed this facility. Moreover, this activity has taught our students energy conservation and ways to harness power from the sun," said Panduranga Nayak, principal of Sri Venkataramana Swamy College.
The college has installed 32 solar panels of 8kw amounting to Rs 8 lakh. Plans are on to install more solar panels in different wings of the institution. The panels produce 17 units of power every day. On an average, the college consumes around 70 units of power per day. "We plan to sell excess power generated during holidays," he said.
The college has installed the grid as per the guidelines set forth by Mescom. According to the green scheme launched by Mescom, customers who produce solar power can sell it.
The college has, therefore, planned to sell energy to the power corporation. On weekends, excess power is generated, as the college is closed. Mescom will buy the excess power at Rs 9.56 per unit.
Kudige Prakash Shenoy, the college correspondent, said this initiative by the college, although small, will meet the power requirements of Karnataka. Venkataramana Swamy College urged every institution to adopt solar energy and reduce carbon footprint.