KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research 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.

Installed by Vyomaa Energy 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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

Mercom India hosts a multicity ‘C&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 Jaipur on September 19, 2025.