India accelerates rooftop solar power adoption
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In India, consumers and utilities are working to increase rooftop solar installations as part of the country’s plan to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030.
Following global climate discussions in 2015, India began promoting net metering, and the rollout of smart meters from 2018 allowed for accurate tracking of energy imported and exported to the grid. This has enabled households and businesses to generate their own electricity, lower bills, and reduce reliance on traditional power sources.
Currently, India has 25.73 GW of installed rooftop solar capacity, with around 4.2 million households connected. The government aims to add 10 million more rooftop solar installations by March 2027 through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana program. Utilities are employing strategies like personalised outreach with “Solar Sakhis” in rural areas and digital platforms to streamline the application process, reducing approval times from nearly 60 days to around seven.
Beyond standard rooftop installations, initiatives like group net metering and virtual net metering are expanding access to solar energy for those without suitable rooftop space. Group net metering allows a single solar plant to power multiple locations owned by one entity, while virtual net metering enables consumers to share energy generated from a large rooftop installation.
Utilities are also exploring higher subsidies and low-interest loans to lower upfront costs for consumers, while acknowledging the need to upgrade grid infrastructure to handle increased power flows.
