Gujarat rooftop solar installations have crossed 9.08 lakh under the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, achieving 90 per cent of the state’s target, officials said on Monday.
The state has set a target of installing 10 lakh residential rooftop solar systems by March 2027. The installed systems have a combined capacity of 3,408 MW, making Gujarat the country’s leading state in rooftop solar capacity under the scheme.
Gujarat accounts for 18.21 per cent of the total rooftop solar capacity installed nationally under the programme.
Gujarat offers financial assistance for rooftop solar
The state government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has introduced financial incentives and regulatory concessions to encourage residential consumers to adopt rooftop solar.
Residential consumers installing systems of up to 6 kW receive assistance of Rs 2,950 towards regulatory charges. The government has also waived network strengthening charges and the requirement for a net metering agreement.
Additional assistance is available to reduce the upfront cost for smaller households.
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) households installing systems of up to 2.18 kilowatt-peak (kWp) capacity are required to contribute only 5 per cent of the prescribed cost. Other consumers contribute 10 per cent.
After accounting for central financial assistance under PM Surya Ghar and the consumer’s contribution, the state government bears the remaining amount of the prescribed benchmark cost.
Net metering and banking charge exemptions
Gujarat’s solar policy allows residential consumers to use net metering. The arrangement records electricity drawn from the grid and surplus power supplied back to it.
The state has also removed restrictions on connected load for residential rooftop solar installations. Households can sell surplus electricity generated by their systems.
Domestic consumers are also exempt from banking charges, according to the state government.
These measures are intended to make rooftop solar installations more accessible and convenient for households.
Gujarat accounts for 18.55% of India’s renewable capacity
Beyond residential rooftop solar, Gujarat has a significant share of India’s installed renewable energy capacity.
As of September 30, the state’s total renewable energy capacity stood at 55,511.46 MW. This accounted for 18.55 per cent of the country’s overall renewable energy capacity.
Solar power contributed 36,234.55 MW to Gujarat’s installed renewable capacity, representing 21.2 per cent of India’s total solar capacity.
The state’s wind energy capacity stood at 17,043.76 MW, accounting for 28.8 per cent of the national total.
The expansion comes amid India’s broader renewable energy targets. The country aims to meet 50 per cent of its electricity requirements through renewable energy sources by 2030, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a net-zero emissions target for 2070.
