Chandigarh: Educational institutions in Punjab would now be harnessing the power of the sun to meet their energy needs through rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic (SPVs) systems, officials said on Friday.

A Punjab Energy Development Agency initiative, the eco-friendly project will be set-up under the Indian government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) programme.

"In the first phase, SPVs systems would be installed at five institutions. They would be of combined capacity of 230 kilowatt," said an official spokesperson of the Punjab government.

The institutions are the Central University, Bathinda; Guru Gobind Singh Educational Trust, Ludhiana; Gian Sagar Medical College, Banur, and Shivalik Public Schools in Mohali and Chandigarh.

"The work in these institutions will be completed in the next four months. Later, this project will be introduced in other educational institutes," he added.

The spokesperson said the power would help offset the requirement of conventional grid electricity. IANS