In Tamil Nadu, electricity consumers including educational institutions, schools and colleges in the state are taking to solar power in a big way. For instance in Chennai, five schools and two colleges that come under the management of Sri Swethambar Sthanakvasi Jain Educational Society are all going in for rooftop solar projects. One of the colleges is AM Jain College – it wants to put up a 1 mw system.

The BS Abdur Rahman University expects to have a 100 kW system on its roof by June, but that is only Phase I. Shuja Ahmed, who looks after solar projects, says that if it became certain that the university could export its surplus power to the grid, it would put up another 200 kW.

The solar wave is not just in Chennai, but across the State. The interest is widespread, all over the State, says PVR Krishna Rao of Earthcare, a consultancy firm that is advising many educational institutions in the state, including Sreevee Business School of Dindigul. According to World Colleges Information, there are over 3,000 colleges and, according to ‘Kalvi Tagaval’ there are 53,722 schools in the state.

While these numbers may not be accurate, it gives some indication of the enormous scope there is for rooftop solar projects.