Can India's rooftop solar initiative sustain its success after 2024?
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Among various RE initiatives, solar power has emerged as a front-runner, contributing an impressive 47% of the total RE capacity. Solar installations more than doubled in 2024, with a record-breaking 24.5 GW added between January and March alone. Additionally, rooftop solar capacity grew by 4.59 GW, marking a 53% increase compared to the previous year. This progress is buoyed by innovative government initiatives, such as the PM Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG), introduced in the 2024 interim budget with an INR 75,000 crore allocation to subsidise rooftop solar installations for 10 million households, providing up to 300 units of free electricity and a target of 30 GW installations under the scheme.
The implementation of the rooftop solar programme has faced several technical challenges, although many of these have been mitigated through the centralised PMSG portal. This portal facilitates registration, installation, vendor selection, and application for net metering. However, the uptake of rooftop solar across the country has been inconsistent, primarily because electricity is a dual-state subject. As a result, consumers’ access to rooftop solar installation options and experience varies significantly across different regions. As of November 2024, under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, Gujarat leads the nation with 281,769 residential rooftop solar installations, accounting for 46% of the total 616,019 installations across India. Maharashtra follows with 120,696
