Religious institutions across India are increasingly adopting solar power to meet their energy needs sustainably. For many ashrams, temples, and monasteries—often located in remote or semi-urban areas with unreliable grid access—solar energy provides a practical, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative.

Ramakrishna Yogashrama, a spiritual and academic center located in Bengaluru’s outskirts, has successfully implemented a multi-faceted solar energy strategy to overcome chronic power outages and voltage fluctuations due to its location at the tail end of a transformer line.

The ashram has implemented multiple rooftop solar installations to ensure uninterrupted energy supply across its four functional zones: the sanctum sanctorum, the student residence, the cowshed, and the community kitchen.

The spiritual center installed a 5 kW solar system to serve the sanctum sanctorum. This system features Enphase IQ8 series microinverters and IQ Battery 5P in an AC-coupled configuration. Its key loads include two smart classrooms, the temple lighting and fans, and a kitchen with two refrigerators.

M S Sunil, CEO of Hinren Engineering, which executed the installations, stated, “The hybrid system is designed to handle high daytime demand while insulating the ashram from grid disturbances.”

This system, fully commissioned in March 2025, also supports net metering, enabling the ashram to export excess energy to the grid and reducing the electricity bill from approximately ₹3,700 (~$43.44) to ₹800 (~$9.39) per month.

The student residence section, which includes two dormitories, a faculty hall, and a small computer room, was equipped with a 4.2 kW hybrid solar system in December 2023. The system is built around a Studer hybrid inverter and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries supplied by Nunam, which specializes in second-life battery technology.

This installation powers essential loads such as lights, fans, and computers. The hybrid design ensures continuity of power during outages.

In the ashram’s cowshed, a 2.4 kW off-grid solar system is currently being installed to support ventilation and lighting for four cattle and their caretakers. The system comprises a 2.6 kW Studer hybrid inverter and five Li-ion batteries. Unlike other grid-interactive systems on the campus, this setup operates independently from the utility supply and provides power throughout the day and night.

The fully off-grid system ensures adequate cooling via fans during the summer.

Ramakrishna Yogashrama’s combined capacity of solar installations at its campus stands at 15.6 kW, distributed across hybrid and off-grid systems, with more capacity being added.

In April this year, Uttara Guruvayurappan Temple in Delhi installed an 80 kW grid-connected rooftop solar system at the shrine.

In the same month, Ohms Energy, a Mumbai-based solar engineering, procurement, and construction company, deployed solar power systems across religious institutions in India to help them reduce electricity costs and promote environmental sustainability.