Waste management companies play a critical role in advancing sustainability through waste segregation and processing. By powering their operations with solar energy, they can further strengthen sustainability across the value chain by reducing their reliance on grid electricity and lowering their carbon footprint.

Kerala-based Green Worms Waste Management has stepped up its sustainability commitment by installing a 202.96kW rooftop solar system at its facility.

The rooftop system is expected to save the company approximately ₹600,000 (~$6,357) annually in electricity expenses.

Before the installation, Green Worms’ monthly electricity expenditure ranged from ₹377,000 (~$3,994) to ₹494,427 (~$5,238).

The project is expected to generate about 24,355 units of electricity per month, averaging 800-810 units per day.

The solar system is expected to meet up to Green Worms’ power requirement.

Green Worms will use solar power to run its waste management operations, including conveyors, balers, and shredders. The project is also connected under a net-metering export arrangement.

Bengaluru-based SafEarth Renewables facilitated the project, which was commissioned on June 10, 2026. Solar developer Sturlite Greentech Solutions invested in and designed the project under the operational expenditure (OPEX) model.

The system was set up using Novasys Greenenergy 590 Wp modules coupled with Solis inverters.

The solar system was set up under the build-own-operate-and-transfer model, with zero upfront capital cost for Green Worms. The minimum performance guarantee for the project is 90% of the capacity.

Green Worms has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with a 15-year lock-in period. The company is planning to install solar projects at its other units under the OPEX model.

Highlighting the installation challenges, SafEarth said that the rooftop system had to be phased around Green Worms’ continuous plant operations to avoid disruption.

It added that the roof structure also required a load assessment before module mounting. Dust from sorting and shredding processes, along with Kerala’s monsoon conditions, added constraints to the project schedule.

In 2023, SafEarth completed a ₹35 million ($426,755) funding round to support the company’s product development initiatives and expansion into new industrial belts across the country.

Mercom India hosts a pan-India C&I Clean Energy Meet series, bringing renewable energy developers and commercial and industrial power consumers together to discuss clean energy adoption. The next event will be held in Hyderabad on August 21, 2026.