Solar University Network

175 GW. That is a target of renewable energy that India has pledged as a part of the pledges given in COP 21 in Paris climate agreement. Share of solar energy in this overall target is 100 GW, of which 40 GW is solar energy generated from the roof top installations.

As of today, India has installed about 32 GW of total solar power capacity. In order to meet the overall target by 2022, the remaining 68 GW of solar energy need to be installed in next 24 months.

The solar energy target set by India is one of the most ambitious targets set so far anywhere in the world, barring China. The implementation of such ambitious target would require entirely different approaches and strategies.

Smart Campus Cloud Network, a flagship project of TERRE Policy Centre that engages university campuses to contribute to United Nations SDGs has now kicked-off a sub-network called SUN – Solar University Network. SUN is a movement that will accelerate the implementation of solar energy power plants by involving students and the faculty to make their campus solar powered.

Every campus requires electricity for lighting, air conditioning, laboratories, workshops, dormitories as well as in kitchens. Depending on the space available on the roof top of the buildings in the campus, as well as the open spaces, the campus can become free of electricity produced by fossil fuels and shift their dependence on solar energy.

The advantages of such disruptive movement are numerous. Apart from saving the cost, the campus can, in short term, reduce its carbon emissions and progress towards making their campus carbon neutral. IPCC report is unambiguous that unless the world becomes carbon neutral by 2050, we will not be able to achieve the objective of Paris Climate Agreement of limiting the temperature rise to 2 deg C.

The campuses represent the dots of such neutrality. And the networking of such campuses would link those dots to make much wider canvas of carbon neutrality. TERRE Policy Centre presented such approach to MEDA (Maharashtra Energy Development Agency) on 27^th November 2019 through a detail analysis "The share of MEDA in overall target of solar energy is 20 GW. In order to meet this target in short time, we indeed require such catalytic movement involving tomorrow's policy makers" said Mr. Kantilalji Umap, Director General MEDA

The decision was taken to summon the working group to get going on the pilot project as proposed by TERRE Policy Centre.

"SUN is a visionary project that looks beyond short-term gains. The youth in a campus would be the decision makers and action-agents when they go out of campus after their graduation into the professional fields. In a way, it is the start of massive transformation much needed to address the Climate Change, the most formidable challenge of all times", said Rajendra Shende, Chairman TERRE and Former Director UNEP