Maharashtra College becomes first ‘Zero Energy’ campus of south Mumbai

MUMBAI: Maharashtra College of Arts, Science and Commerce is declared the first solar powered campus in south Mumbai. The energy department also titled the institute ‘zero energy’ — as the total energy used annually is equal to the renewable energy created on site. Dr Siraj Chougle, principal of the college, said, “The idea was to adopt green energy and bring our electricity bill to zero.”

The institute generates electricity it consumes through solar panels for powering seven-storey main building, four-storey annexe building, two lifts, water pumps, air conditioners, computers, lights, and fans. It is about 250 solar panels across 2,000 square feet on the building rooftop.

Earlier in October 2017, the campus first installed solar panels to fulfill its energy demands with half the capacity from now. The college had installed an additional 100 solar panels, taking their annual electricity generation to 1.12 lakh units or an average of 306 units per day. Currently, the capacity of the plant has increased to 84.5 kilowatt power. With the installation of solar panels the institute is saving Rs 1.3 lakh in electricity bills every month. According to the company (MSS Renewtech) that installed the plant in campus, the college can save up to Rs 2.63 cr within 25 years.

“This is one of the perfect examples of a ‘zero-energy’ model,” said S P Gon Chaudhuri, chairman, International Solar Innovation Council, a global body of solar energy experts. Arvind Singh, principal secretary, energy department of Maharashtra said that the new initiative is being encouraged by the department. It will become a model to forward our goals of transforming new India towards green energy, he added.