Top 5 States Spearheading Rooftop Solar in India

India has made strides in new solar capacity addition in the last few years. However, a considerable gap exists between rooftop solar (RTS) and utility-scale solar installations. 

Despite existing national and state-level schemes promoting rooftop solar, including the National Rooftop Scheme and state government subsidies, participation rates remained low. This is mostly because of the complex and time-consuming installation process, further exacerbated by bureaucratic delays and a lack of awareness among potential beneficiaries. In addition, the absence of streamlined financing options, limited manufacturing capacity for solar cells and modules, and inefficient load extension procedures pose challenges to seamless RTS adoption.

As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) data, the country has achieved a total of 81.81 GW of solar installation which includes Ground Mounted Solar Plant (64.41 GW), Grid Connected Solar Rooftops (11.87 GW), Hybrid Projects (2.57 GW), and Off-Grid Solar (2.96 GW). 

Nevertheless, some states have shown a positive uptick in solar adoption and contribute to over 65 per cent of total RTS installed by the country. Here’s the list of the top 5 states spearheading the Rooftop Solar Installation in India.

#1 Gujarat 

Installed Capacity: 3.46 GW

Contributing roughly 3455.90 MW of RTS installation, Gujarat leads the sector with a mammoth 29 per cent of the country’s total installation. The Surya-Gujarat Yojana, launched in August 2019, offers subsidies for rooftop solar panel installations ranging from 1 kW to 10 kW. The country’s recently adopted Renewable Energy Policy 2023 targets 50 per cent power generation from renewables by 2030 further boosting the Gujarat administration’s RTS goals. 

The residential policy for the sector and the favourable stance of its DISCOMs towards rooftop solar projects spurred solar adoption in the westernmost state of India.

#2 Maharashtra 

Installed Capacity: 2.07 GW

Maharashtra teams up with Gujarat to spearhead the adoption of RTS installation in the western region of the country. Second only to Gujarat, the state has achieved over 2071 MW of RTS installation, about 17.45 per cent of the country’s total.

The central government’s extension of rooftop solar subsidies to individual homeowners and housing societies in Maharashtra and across the nation has led to a notable increase in interest.

Maharashtra’s state policies also played a part in its RTS success story. Recently, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) put forth initiatives to deploy 3 million rooftop solar systems on residences across the state as part of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana. Subsidies are being provided based on the capacities of the solar installations and the power consumption of households. 

#3 Rajasthan

Installed Capacity: 1.15 GW

With a total RTS installed capacity of about 1154 MW, Rajasthan rounds up the top 3 states in the sector. Rajasthan receives the highest solar radiation in the country and while the state has been making use of its geographical advantage, rooftop solar is a laggard compared to ground-mounted capacity. As per one report, only 25,000 homes out of approximately 13 million LT connections in Rajasthan have opted for rooftop solar. 

State policies have played a pivotal role in the overall increase in solar adoption in the state, such as the increase in the net metering cap for solar rooftop projects by the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC). The state also unveiled an ambitious energy policy with a target of developing 90 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2030. 

#4 Kerala

Installed Capacity: 0.67GW

Kerala comes next with over 675MW of installed solar on the roofs. Notably, solar rooftops have taken precedence over ground-mounted (322 MW) alternatives, making RTS the state’s preferred system for harnessing solar power. Recently, the Naduppathi Tribal settlement in Palakkad became the first settlement in the country to have Rooftop Solar installed in all feasible households.

#5 Tamil Nadu

Installed Capacity: 0.6GW

Tamil Nadu completes the top 5 states with an installed rooftop solar capacity of approximately 599MW. To enhance its adoption of rooftop solar (RTS), the state government is providing subsidies of Rs30,000 for 1kW to 3kW systems and Rs78,000 for systems over 3KW. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) is implementing reductions in electricity bills. Through the scheme, TANGEDCO is targeting 54,000 applications in the Coimbatore metro circle.