Educational and institutional campuses spread over large areas can utilize available rooftop space for solar installations, reducing their dependence on grid electricity without requiring additional land. For institutions with substantial daytime electricity consumption, rooftop solar can also help reduce power procurement costs and avoid transmission-related losses.

The National Insurance Academy (NIA) in Baner, Maharashtra, has commissioned a 517-kW rooftop solar project across its campus to lower its electricity costs.

WinSun Green developed the project, which was installed in August 2026.

The project is expected to deliver annual savings of about ₹3.5 million (~$36,463).

The primary motivation for adopting rooftop solar was to reduce costs. The academy’s overall electricity consumption was within 1 MW, and sufficient rooftop space was available across its buildings, making a ground-mounted project unnecessary.

The installer said the rooftop system also offered the advantage of generating electricity close to the point of consumption, helping reduce transmission and other associated losses.

Project Configuration

The 517-kW project uses Saatvik solar modules. According to WinSun Green, the installation used 620 W modules.

The project also uses GoodWe inverters.

The solar installation spans different building types on the NIA campus. This created execution challenges because the team had to coordinate work across multiple structures, including government buildings, while adhering to safety requirements and restrictions on when installation activities could be undertaken.

WinSun Green said its installation team completed the project within the required timeline while complying with the necessary safety requirements.

Power Procurement

The project has been structured under a power purchase agreement (PPA) between WinSun Green and the NIA at a tariff of ₹5 (~$0.052)/kWh.

The rooftop installation is a group captive project.

Cost reduction remains the academy’s principal benefit, with available rooftop space, on-site generation, and lower electricity procurement costs forming the basis for adopting solar. Residential consumers are also opting for rooftop solar to reduce electricity bills.

Recently, Vintage View, a residential apartment complex in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, installed a 20-kW rooftop solar system to reduce its electricity bills. Wattsun Energy India installed the solar system. According to the installer, high electricity bills were the primary reason for adopting rooftop solar.

To promote awareness of the benefits of solar adoption, Mercom India organizes its pan-India C&I Clean Energy Meet series, connecting renewable energy developers with commercial and industrial consumers to explore clean energy solutions. The next event will be held in Visakhapatnam on September 24, 2026.