Gujarat Temple Goes Solar – Utilizes the Savings For Education

Yet another story about solar benevolence! The renowned Badrinarayan temple in Surat switched to solar power and is utilizing the savings from electricity bill towards promoting education in the region. The temple claims that the electricity bill has dropped down from Rs. 1.5-2 lakhs per month to just Rs. 10,000-12,000 per month. With these savings, the shrine has started a college and a school for Sanskrit in the region.

Also, read Sikhism’s most Holy Shrine the Golden Temple to become Solar Powered

A 50kW solar panel system was installed on the rooftop of the temple at a total cost of Rs. 25 lakhs. The temple is already reaping huge benefits, given its large monthly electricity bills. Rooftop solar prices have already reached grid parity in most of the states in India. It now makes complete sense to go solar.  The electricity tariff is so high in India that installing a rooftop solar system seems like a viable financial option. 1 kW rooftop system can roughly generate about 1500-1600 units of power annually. Some of the residential complexes charge around INR 7-8 per unit. You can thus recover your money in 7 years. If you put this money in a bank, you earn interest at the rate of 8% max.

Solar energy is not only helping in generating cheap power, reducing global carbon footprint but also uplifting the society by providing education and employment opportunities. The Badrinarayan temple in Gujarat has set a big example for charitable and religious institutions to go solar. The temple’s gesture to use the savings towards funding education has touched people in the country. They are encouraged by the news and are appealing to more and more religious places to install solar panels.