20 November,2025 04:58 PM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
The university aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and move towards a carbon-neutral, green campus. File pic
The University of Mumbai (MU) has begun implementing a 200-kilowatt (kW) solar power project at its Kalina Complex, which will enable seven buildings to run entirely on renewable energy and reduce electricity costs by over Rs 4 lakh per month.
The initiative forms part of the university's broader objectives of increasing the use of renewable energy, cutting carbon emissions, and raising environmental awareness among students. Earlier, solar power projects were launched at the Thane Sub-Campus and the School of Engineering Applied Sciences in Kalyan.
The Kalina Complex buildings to be powered entirely by solar energy include Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan, Feroz Shah Mehta Bhavan, CD Deshmukh Bhavan, the Old Lecture Complex, Life Science Building, Maulana Abdul Kalam Bhavan, and the Department of Biophysics.
MU has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Comet India and United Way Mumbai to implement the project. The 200 kW solar transmission is part of the first phase of the initiative, which will allow a significant portion of the campus to operate on renewable energy, substantially reducing annual electricity costs while contributing to lower carbon emissions.
The solar plant is equipped with a net metering system, ensuring that the entire building receives solar energy. The setup includes solar panels, inverters, and a net meter system, enabling the generation of additional energy. The 200 kW system is expected to produce approximately 2.6 lakh units of electricity annually. The university aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and move towards a carbon-neutral, green campus.
"Mumbai University's move towards green energy is a significant milestone in all three areas - environmental conservation, renewable energy use, and sustainable development. The campus will continue to become more eco-friendly in the future," said MU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ravindra Kulkarni. "The campus is also focusing on wastewater recycling, rainwater harvesting, energy saving, waste management, water conservation, tree plantation, and climate skill programmes, with active student participation to raise environmental awareness."
Plastic bottle-shredding machine
In another environmentally friendly step, MU's Kalina campus has installed a plastic bottle-shredding machine. The machine will sort used plastic bottles for recycling, helping control plastic waste on campus and promote sustainable waste management practices under the âGreen Campus' initiative.
