It will be almost one year since the PM Surya Ghar Yojana was launched in February 2024. This scheme targets to provide free or low-cost electricity to one crore rural households through rooftop solar installations. It offers up to 300 units of electricity per month with central financial help covering 60% of the installation cost.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reviewed the scheme and asked officials to speed up installations with a saturation approach. States have been told to focus on completing solar installations in phases across villages, towns, and cities. The government also introduced two payment models to make solar panels more affordable.
The RESCO model allows companies to install solar panels, and consumers pay only for their electricity. There are no upfront costs for this. The utility-led Aggregate model lets DISCOMS install solar panels for households.
The scheme has helped install seven lakh rooftop solar systems in ten months. In 2024, rooftop solar installations grew by 53%, adding 4.59 GW of capacity. Off-grid solar systems also added 1.48 GW, helping rural areas get electricity.
The PM Surya Ghar Yojana is expected to unlock a ₹1.2 trillion business opportunity in India’s solar sector. The government plans to achieve 30 GW of rooftop solar capacity by 2026-27.
Source:
