Shillong (Meghalaya), June 2: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated a 50 KW solar plant with battery backup at St Mary’s Higher Secondary School here, calling it a step towards turning renewable energy into practical solutions for Meghalaya.
The ₹50 lakh installation by MNREDA is among the largest in a state school. Sangma said the system will save St Mary’s about 6,000 units of electricity a month, or nearly ₹40,000, and provide backup for several days even without sunlight.
He said the CM Solar Mission has already covered nearly 700 schools with over 1.5 MW of capacity, and another 1,300 schools will be taken up soon. The government also plans net metering so schools can feed excess power to the grid during holidays.
“Technology alone is not enough. We have to convert it into solutions people can rely on,” he said, citing earlier projects that failed for lack of storage.
Sangma announced a state technology and innovation contest for students and young entrepreneurs, with government funding for workable ideas in energy, waste, water, health and agriculture. “We will invest crores in these ideas,” he said.
Power Commissioner Joram Beda noted Meghalaya’s renewable potential at 14.6 GW and said solar is now a priority, with nearly 2,000 government schools earmarked for phased installation.
Principal Sr Sonia Chacko said the project would cut reliance on conventional power and instill environmental responsibility in students.
