Achieving Centre’s rooftop solar targets to remain a challenge: study, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Only 13.1% of the 1 crore targeted solar rooftop installations under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana (PMSGY) have been achieved by July 2025.
• Just 14.1% of the allocated ₹65,700 crore in subsidies has been released till July 2025.
• The PMSGY received 57.9 lakh applications for residential rooftop solar installations as of July 2025.
• 4,946 MW of rooftop solar capacity has been installed under the scheme till July 2025, benefiting over 16 lakh households.

Detailed Insights:

• The FY2027 target of 1 crore installations is viewed as a considerable challenge due to slow approval processes.
• Approval delays range from 45 to 120 days due to meter shortages, coordination issues, and procedural inefficiencies.
• The PMSGY incentivizes solar installations with domestically manufactured components, which are costlier by ₹12/watt.
• Higher prices of DCR-compliant modules make larger residential installations less economically attractive.
• Establishing clear, time-bound rooftop solar capacity targets at the State level is essential for progress.
• The 4.9 GW of installations added under the PMSGY account for approximately 44.5% of India’s total residential rooftop capacity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PM Surya Ghar Yojana (PMSGY): A Centre-led scheme to encourage residential rooftop solar connections through subsidies and loans.
• DCR-compliant modules: Solar installation components entirely manufactured in India, incentivized under the PMSGY.
• DISCOMs: Distribution companies responsible for electricity supply and crucial in the rooftop solar installation process.