Mangaluru: Around 50 schools in Dakshina Kannada will be opting for solar energy soon.

MLC Ivan D’Souza on Thursday, addressing media persons said, “The schools identified will get a 3 kilowatt solar rooftop unit costing Rs 2.5 lakh each,”

“A unit produces 12 units of power in a day and with  MESCOM offering Rs 9.56 per unit of solar power supplied to the grid, a school will be able to earn Rs 3,441 per month , which will be useful for its various projects,” he said.

Ivan who is keen on installing solar panels in the schools, both aided and government, has a target of completing the task within a year. He has also sought help from all eight MLAs of the district to recommend five schools each in their constituencies to install solar panels.

As there was unlikely to be any power consumption for about four months in a year, when the schools were on holiday, the power supply to the grid from these units would be more and so would their income, the MLC said.

Local Area Development Fund, donors and corporates will take up Rs 1.25 crore project in this regard.

The decision to opt for solar energy will not only save electricity but also earn some revenue in the process.