Government College University (GCU) Lahore has become the first public university that has started the process to power its main campus with solar energy via Public Private Partnership, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

About 500 MW of electricity will be produced through 500 solar panels while it has been clarified that no funds from the university will be utilized.

GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Asghar Zaidi said that the project would not only reduce 50 percent electricity cost of the university but also help reduce environmental pollution.

He said that the university was purchasing solar equipment on a deferred payment model with net metering and for the next 25 years, all repairs, maintenance, and replacement of solar panels and allied equipment would be made by the seller company.

The VC believed that the project would inspire other universities in Pakistan to shift their electricity needs to solar energy.

Last month, GCU signed an accord to install solar power panels across the rooftops of the university’s main campus.

Reporter Imran Younis