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					</table><p>Educational institutions are among the many organizations increasingly adopting solar energy to meet their electricity demands, reduce electricity bills, and leave a greener energy footprint.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://nitc.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut</a> in Kerala is installing a 1.2 MW rooftop solar project to meet the increased electricity demand expected from the planned infrastructure expansion, including academic buildings, hostels, and research facilities.</p>
<p>The project, being installed under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, follows earlier solar systems installed on select buildings as part of NIT’s long-term infrastructure strategy.</p>
<p>The new solar project is expected to offset a significant portion of the institution&#8217;s daytime electricity load, enhance the institution’s energy resilience as its campus expands, and secure a fixed, long-term electricity tariff without upfront capital investment.</p>
<p>NIT has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with <a href="https://vyomaa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vyomaa Energy</a>, which will finance, construct, and operate the project for an estimated capital expenditure of ₹40 million (~$439,669.2) to ₹45 million (~$494,627.85), excluding GST.</p>
<p>NIT will not incur any upfront capital expenditure. The ownership of the project will be transferred to the institution after 25 years.</p>
<p>The institution’s annual electricity consumption is approximately 8.43 GWh. Its spending on energy charges, demand charges, taxes, and statutory surcharges amounts to ₹68 million (~$747,437.64) per year.</p>
<p>The solar project is expected to generate 1.73 GWh per year, with a contracted capacity utilization factor of 16.5%. The rooftop solar system is projected to supply approximately 20.6% of NIT’s total annual power requirements and provide savings of about ₹210 million (~$2.31 million) over the PPA term.</p>
<p>The solar energy will be used for captive consumption across the NIT campus. Any surplus or export will be treated in accordance with the provisions of the PPA and the applicable state or distribution company metering or open access rules.</p>
<p>The rooftop project will use high-efficiency monocrystalline bifacial Mono PERC cells, each with a capacity of approximately 550 Wp. The project will be connected to multiple string inverters of 30 kW, 110 kW, and 150 kW. All inverters will include maximum power point tracking and remote-monitoring features.</p>
<p>Vyomaa expects to complete the completion and commissioning within 16 to 20 weeks of site mobilization. Final commissioning will be confirmed after statutory clearances and equipment delivery schedules are confirmed.</p>
<p>The company has delivered nearly 5 MW of rooftop solar capacity for educational institutions.</p>
<p>NIT stated that the 1.2 MW solar installation represents the first structured phase of its renewable energy initiatives. As the campus expands, the institute plans to evaluate additional rooftop capacity along with battery energy storage systems.</p>
<p>Commercial and industrial consumers can lower their electricity expenses by switching to solar energy. To promote awareness of its benefits, Mercom India hosts a series of Clean Energy Meets across India. The next event is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2026-bhopal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scheduled</a> to take place in Bhopal on March 13, 2026.</p>


NIT Calicut to Save on Energy Bills with 1.2 MW Rooftop Solar Project


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					</table><p><a href="https://kaher.edu.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KLE Academy of Higher Education &amp; Research</a> turned to rooftop solar in 2023 to cut electricity costs, reduce its dependence on the grid, and bring renewable energy into its hospitals and colleges. A year on, the 1 MW system at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) campus in Belgaum, Karnataka, is doing just that. It generates approximately 150,000 units of power every month and reduces the electricity bill by nearly ₹600,000 (~$6,812) every month.</p>
<p>Installed by <a href="https://vyomaa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vyomaa Energy</a> under the renewable energy service company model, the rooftop project has been running steadily since May 2023. The JNMC campus was already using more than 1 million units of electricity per month through open access power. The rooftop system now supplies a reliable share of that demand. With an eight-year payback period, the project is on track to break even by 2031, setting the institution up for long-term savings.</p>
<p>The system uses mono PERC bifacial half-cut modules rated at 545 Wp, paired with PowerOne inverters in the 80 kW to 100 kW range. Hot-dip galvanized steel mounting structures were used to keep the setup durable.</p>
<p>Getting the project built was not simple. Work began during the COVID-19 period, when access to the medical college was tightly restricted. To avoid disrupting medical activities, student schedules, and frequent campus events, Vyomaa Energy often had to airlift panels and install them in the late evenings or at night. Each stage required prior approvals, adding extra layers of coordination.</p>
<p>Those hurdles are behind them now. The rooftop proved shade-free and structurally sound, and the system has been running smoothly since commissioning, delivering the savings and sustainability gains KLE set out to achieve. Another hybrid solar-plus-storage project is already in the planning stages.</p>
<p>“The 1 MW rooftop at JNMC was not an easy project. We had to work through COVID, campus restrictions, and rain delays, yet still deliver on time. That is what makes it special,” said Rahul Kodali, Head of Operations at Vyomaa Energy.</p>
<p>With low interest rates, government-backed subsidies, and streamlined digital processing, there has never been a better time for companies to invest in solar energy. By adopting solar power, businesses can cut electricity costs and become sustainable in their operations.</p>
<p>Mercom India hosts a multicity ‘C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet’ series designed to provide commercial and industrial energy buyers with the knowledge and tools they need to adopt clean energy solutions and lower their power costs. The next Clean Energy Meet event will be held in <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-jaipur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jaipur</a> on September 19, 2025.</p>


Medical College in Belgaum Saves Big on Power Costs with 1 MW Solar Project


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					</table><p>In an interview on the sidelines of the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/renewables-summit-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025</a> held in New Delhi on July 24 and 25, 2025, Venkat Avirneni, Co-Founder and CEO at <a href="https://vyomaa.com/india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vyomaa Energy</a>, shared his insights on India’s rooftop solar trends in the commercial and industrial sector.</p>
<p>He also spoke about his company’s operations in India and the U.S., and on the need for India to foster a battery manufacturing ecosystem for energy storage.</p>
<p><strong>Please give us an introduction to Vyomaa Energy and your service offerings.</strong></p>
<p>We operate in India and the U.S. In India, we are primarily into rooftop solar for the commercial and industrial sector. In the U.S., we cater to the residential market.</p>
<p>Vyomaa installs rooftop solar onsite at our customer facilities. Our business model is currently in the commercial and industrial sector.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Venkat Avirneni, Co-Founder and CEO at Vyomaa Energy" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1108968557?h=9b4e7d7e55&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span></iframe></p>
<p><strong>What is your market size in terms of capacity?</strong></p>
<p>We have about 8 MW operating capacity, and we have closed about another 10 MW that is shovel-ready. Vyomaa has a target of 25 MW by March 31, 2026.</p>
<p>For the C&amp;I segment, our order book is full.</p>
<p><strong>Which segments of the industry do your clients come from?</strong></p>
<p>Our customer base is the educational sector, the wood processing sector, and the automotive industry sector. We also have leases from data centers, software companies, and large malls. But our portfolio is mainly educational and the healthcare sector.</p>
<p>Most of our capacity, which is about 4.5 MW, is in Karnataka. The capacity is split between the education and food processing sectors.</p>
<p>The majority of the opportunities in the education sector lie in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. In West Bengal, the power-hungry food processing industry is rapidly expanding. Educational institutions are a daytime industry, and they are the ones that tap into renewable energy power first. And now, they are operating 24/7, with all their hostels and lab facilities for which we must provide battery solutions.</p>
<p><strong>Going forward, are you also getting into other verticals like the independent power producer segment?</strong></p>
<p>We are venturing into storage, and at every rooftop facility, we are integrating energy storage, which gives added value to our clients, helping them secure access to 24/7 power at cheaper rates.</p>
<p><strong>What kind of challenges and opportunities do you see in the C&amp;I rooftop solar space?</strong></p>
<p>The project construction activity is pretty straightforward. But grid synchronization and grid stabilization are major challenges. The process improvements have to come from both policymakers and developers. They have to work together to speed up grid synchronization.</p>
<p><strong>What is your module sourcing strategy? </strong></p>
<p>We have our vendor partners, major domestic module manufacturers from whom we source tier one modules.</p>
<p>Since our PPA tenures are for 25 years, our modules have to sustain for the entire duration. We source carefully, because we deliver quality. In the C&amp;I segment, only those who provide quality will sustain.</p>
<p>When we procure the modules, we take a linear performance warranty for 10-15 years, after which the product warranty kicks in.</p>
<p><strong>You are also participating in government tenders. You recently won a project from SECI. </strong></p>
<p>We actively participate in government tenders, and primarily in SECI tenders. Recently, we won two projects, one in North India and one in the South. These are challenging projects for us. The challenges lie in identifying the roof space and meeting the growing demands of clients. They have their own energy mix and operational expenditure. Customer needs change as we talk to them.</p>
<p>We are working towards commissioning them by the end of this year.</p>
<p><strong>From your experience, which model do C&amp;I businesses prefer between solar open access and rooftop solar? </strong></p>
<p>In solar open access, the availability of land is a major issue. Open access rules also differ from state to state. That’s a challenge for us. On the other hand, in the rooftop model, if the client has rooftop space, we can provide a solution.</p>
<p>Businesses have to choose between these two solutions.</p>
<p><strong>What model does Vyomaa employ – CAPEX or OPEX – in your rooftop solar projects? </strong></p>
<p>We go with the OPEX model. We sign PPAs for 20 to 25 years. With zero investment from the customer, we install the rooftop. We bring the capital, and we deploy the project on the client’s facility.</p>
<p>We have been in this domain for about 12 years. We raise equity, and we have equity partners from overseas as well as in Indian markets. We also tap into project finance debt providers. Initially, it was very tough to explain to banks how this model works. But now, more and more banks are learning and developing different product segmentations for financing.</p>
<p><strong>What are Vyomaa Energy’s expansion plans? </strong></p>
<p>Right now, we are mainly focused on a few states in India. We have won a project in Delhi, which allows us to expand into northern markets as well.</p>
<p>We are also in talks with clients in the U.S. and exploring opportunities in the data center and global capability center market.</p>
<p><strong>What kind of policy prescriptions do you suggest to make business in India easier? </strong></p>
<p>We need a common policy across states for grid synchronization to expedite project commissioning.</p>
<p>I feel the C&amp;I segment is yet to take off in a big way. In utility scale, we are adding about 20 GW a year. We need to see the same scale in the C&amp;I sector.</p>
<p>Policy changes can address some of the bottlenecks in C&amp;I project commissioning. With battery technology coming into play, we should be able to supply round-the-clock power onsite at the customer facility.</p>
<p><strong>The government has been incorporating 10% energy storage in solar tenders. What more needs to be done to give an impetus to the storage sector?</strong></p>
<p>One thing India lacks is enough manufacturers locally. We have to rely on outside manufacturers. While mandating energy storage definitely increases demand, the technology must originate from within India. That is a challenge.</p>
<p>But eventually, as the market picks up, we will have more battery manufacturers coming into play.</p>
<p><strong>Do you have plans to participate in BESS tenders floated by government agencies? </strong></p>
<p>That’s an ongoing activity for us. Any tender that comes in the size and scale that we can participate in, we are into it. As I speak, my tendering team is participating in at least four different tenders. Some of them have battery storage as well.</p>
<p><strong>(Note: Sections of the interview have been paraphrased for better reading. Check out the video for a full chat)</strong></p>


India Must Foster Battery Manufacturing Ecosystem for Energy Storage: Interview


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					</table><p>By utilizing the rooftop space to install solar power systems, snacks manufacturer <a href="https://www.prabhujipurefood.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prabhuji Pure Food</a>, a vertical of <a href="https://www.haldiram.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Haldiram’s</a>, has saved nearly ₹4.38 million (~$51,214) annually over the past three years.</p>
<p>The solar energy is utilized to power its snacks manufacturing plants in Kolkata. The company installed rooftop solar projects to reduce its reliance on non-renewable energy sources.</p>
<p>These factories produce popular Indian snacks, including soan papdi, moong dal, and other savory treats.</p>
<p>With rising electricity tariffs, Prabhuji sought an alternative and cheaper source of energy, eventually considering solar energy.</p>
<p>The company installed solar systems on the rooftops of its two factories in Alampur and Singur in late 2022.</p>
<p>The total solar capacity comprises a 400 kW project in one of its factories in Alampur and a 555 kW project in another factory in Singur.</p>
<p>Across its two factories, the company was incurring a monthly electricity expenditure ranging between ₹600,000 (~$7,016) and ₹3.5 million (~$40,924).</p>
<p>After adopting solar energy, the company was able to save ₹4.38 million (~$51,214) annually.</p>
<p>The solar projects cumulatively generate approximately 3,200 units of energy daily, totaling roughly 95,000 units per month.</p>
<p>As a grid-connected net-metered solar project, Prabhuji was also able to reduce its dependence on diesel generators and the fuel costs associated with powering them.</p>
<p><a href="https://vyomaa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vyomaa Energy</a> set up the rooftop solar systems utilizing 540 Wp monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) bifacial modules in Singur and 330 Wp monocrystalline PERC monofacial modules in Alampur.</p>
<p>Bifacial modules were chosen for the Singur location due to their growing popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>Vyomaa completed the installation in both factories in 90 days. However, it highlighted that the projects were slightly delayed due to supply chain issues during the pandemic.</p>
<p>Food manufacturing facilities often produce soot and black residue that settles on the panels. Vyomaa ensured that the modules were cleaned once a week to minimize losses and maintain generation efficiency.</p>
<p>While the process was seamless for Prabhuji, Vyomaa Energy addressed some of the obstacles encountered during solar system installations.</p>
<p>Venkata Sandeep Anaparthi, Co-founder and Executive Director of Vyomaa Energy,  said, “It was a challenge to coordinate with the regional distribution companies to complete the net metering process for the project. It pushed deadlines slightly beyond the anticipated timeline. We also faced some issues with fixing gaps in the electrical infrastructure and syncing the generators with the solar power projects”.</p>
<p>Riding on the success of their efforts, Prabhuji plans to increase the capacity of the installations.</p>
<p>Several Indian companies are switching to clean energy sources to power their operations to save on energy bills and to become sustainable. Mercom India has been hosting <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-mumbai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C&amp;I Clean Energy Meets</a>, bringing renewable energy generators and consumers together to raise awareness about the benefits of clean energy.</p>
<p>The next event in the series will be held in <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-coimbatore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coimbatore</a> on June 13, 2025.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-coimbatore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact us</a> if you plan to install solar and need guidance or recommendations for vendors.</p>


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