Overview
- Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the 50 kW solar photovoltaic plant at St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School in Shillong on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and said the project was implemented by the Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (MNREDA).
- The system cost about Rs 50 lakh, includes battery backup and inverters, and is expected to generate roughly 6,000 units per month, cutting the school’s power bill by about Rs 40,000 a month or close to Rs 5 lakh a year.
- The government emphasized end-to-end systems after earlier, panel-only installs often failed to deliver steady power; larger school sites will receive 50 kW plants with battery storage that can provide up to eight days of backup in some cases.
- Meghalaya said it will expand the Chief Minister’s Solar Mission beyond the initial 1.5 MW in nearly 700 schools by beginning work in roughly 1,300 more schools and will pursue net metering so schools can supply surplus electricity back to the grid.
- Officials announced a forthcoming state technology and innovation competition to encourage students and entrepreneurs to build local solutions in energy, health, waste and agriculture, a move that aims to link deployment with local jobs and practical ideas.