• UGI USER
  • Feb 03, 2024
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ROOFTOP SOLARIZATION INITIATIVE

Why in the News?

  • Finance Minister echoes Prime Minister’s pledge to electrify one crore households through rooftop solar setups in the Interim Budget 2024-25.
  • Each household can potentially receive 300 units of free electricity monthly, amounting to yearly benefits of ₹15,000-18,000 by selling surplus power back to distribution companies.

Budget Allocation and Current Scenario:

  • Government expenditure on rooftop solar power in 2023-24 was ₹2,167 crore, with a budget of ₹4,555 crore set for 2024-25.
  • Current Status of Rooftop : India’s installed rooftop solar capacity stands at 11 GW, with only 2.7 GW in residential units.
  • Limited household adoption is attributed to low electricity consumption and subsidies for conventional power sources.

Source: NavitaSolar

About Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana :

  • Aims to rapidly install solar power systems on one crore houses, promoting rooftop solar capacity.
  • Offers incentives and financial assistance to make rooftop solar adoption affordable for residential consumers.
  • No specific timeline provided for the implementation of the scheme.
  • Reduces monthly electricity bills for households adopting solar rooftops.
  • Aligns with India’s target of reaching 500GW renewable energy by 2030, emphasizing solar contribution.
Current Rooftop Solar Landscape

·    As of December 2022, India’s total solar capacity is around 73GW, with only 11GW from rooftop solar.

·    As of July 31, 2023, approximately 2.2 GW of rooftop installations reported in Indian homes.