Rooftop solar installations reached 50 lakh households: Pralhad Joshi

PM Surya Ghar scheme has crossed 50 lakh rooftop solar installations, with 14.8 GW commissioned and nearly 19 lakh households reporting zero electricity bills

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has initiated consultations with industry representatives and experts on the next phase of the residential rooftop solar scheme, Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY). The existing scheme, launched in February 2024, is set to expire in March 2027.

 

The scheme, with a total outlay of ₹75,021 crore, targets covering 10 million households by 2026-27. Total installations currently stand at 5 million, with an installed capacity of 14.8 gigawatt. A total subsidy of ₹28,024 crore has been released to beneficiaries so far.

 

The ministry has received several suggestions from stakeholders, including proposals for integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) and expanding into rural areas, but none has been finalised yet, ministry officials told Business Standard.

   

“BESS has the potential to enhance the value proposition of rooftop solar by enabling the storage of excess daytime generation for use during non-solar hours. At the system level, storage can contribute to improved grid balancing and operational flexibility for distribution companies and state load despatch centres,” officials said.

 

They added that the consultations are at a preliminary stage and no decision has been taken on any specific intervention. “The objective of these discussions is to take a holistic view of the scheme, identify implementation challenges and opportunities, and explore measures that could further strengthen the consumer experience and support the long-term growth of the rooftop solar ecosystem,” the officials said.

 

When asked whether the scheme would be expanded to cover village- or community-level integrated rooftop solar systems and what incentives were being considered to boost adoption in these segments, the officials said the existing scheme already provides for developing one model solar village in each district to demonstrate the benefits of rooftop solar and encourage wider adoption through replication.

 

“During the stakeholder consultations, some suggestions have also been received regarding the further expansion of rooftop solar adoption in rural areas. The ministry is deliberating on the various suggestions received as part of a broader review of the scheme,” the officials said.

 

Commenting on the subsidy measures under consideration, the officials said no decision has been taken at this stage on changes to the existing support framework, including the central financial assistance (CFA), or on introducing any alternative mechanisms. They added that, as the consultations are ongoing, it would be premature to comment further.

 

The officials said the ministry is continuously monitoring the implementation and performance of PMSGMBY, including market trends and consumer response, to support evidence-based policymaking. “The economics of rooftop solar have improved over the years owing to factors such as enhanced efficiencies, a more mature implementation and vendor ecosystem, greater consumer awareness, and the easing of regulatory provisions across states,” the officials said. They added that the CFA under the scheme has played an important role in accelerating adoption and expanding access to rooftop solar.