Latest news with #SuryaGhar
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Govt. targets to install 20 lakh rooftop solar units this year and three lakh units by June-end, says A.P. Chief Secretary Vijayanand
Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary and Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K. Vijayanand has said the State government has set an ambitious target of installing 20 lakh rooftop solar units this year. At a review meeting on Thursday, Mr. Vijayanand said the DISCOMs and NREDCAP had to collectively achieve the target of providing three lakh rooftop solar connections by the end of June 2025. 'Each DISCOM is assigned a target of 75,000 connections, while NREDCAP will also execute 75,000 connections. An action plan should be submitted immediately, and the progress will be reviewed every week,' he said. Stressing the need for wide publicity to the PM Surya Ghar scheme among the SC and ST beneficiaries, he said setting up a 2-kilowatt rooftop unit would be entirely free for them. He also sought that awareness be created about the scheme among the Backward Classes (BC) households. Model village 'The government is providing a total subsidy of ₹80,000 — a sum of ₹60,000 from the Central Government and ₹20,000 from the State government — towards installation of rooftop solar unit costing ₹1.20 lakh under the PM Surya Ghar scheme,' Mr. Vijayanand said. Further, he directed that one model village be developed in each district as demonstration sites for effective implementation of the scheme. He also stressed the need for DISCOMs and NREDCAP to coordinate with banks to establish formal tie-ups, specifically for the execution of these model villages. CMDs of APEPDCL, APSPDCL and APCPDCL I. Prudhvi Tej, K. Santosha Rao, and P. Pulla Reddy respectively were among others present.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India adds 1.2 GW rooftop solar capacity in Q1 2025, residential segment accounts for 78%
New Delhi: India added 1.2 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the January-March quarter of 2025, marking a 232 per cent increase over the 366.5 MW installed in the corresponding quarter of 2024, according to Mercom India Research. The installations in Q1 2025 were 6 per cent lower than the 1.3 GW added in Q4 2024. The capacity addition during the quarter was the second-highest ever for rooftop solar installations in the country. According to Mercom, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana contributed to more than 77 per cent of the installations in the quarter. However, the quarter fell short of a new record due to implementation bottlenecks in the programme, high system costs, and a shortage of Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) compliant modules. The residential segment accounted for nearly 78 per cent of rooftop installations in the quarter. The industrial, commercial and government segments accounted for 16 per cent, 6 per cent, and 0.4 per cent, respectively. Installations under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model comprised over 91 per cent of the additions, while the operational expenditure (OPEX/RESCO) model accounted for 9 per cent. "Momentum in the residential solar segment has slowed due to implementation hurdles in the Surya Ghar program, persistent component shortages, and high system costs. Consumer expectations are not being met, whether it is cost, quality, or installation timelines. Addressing these issues is critical to unlocking the true potential of the residential solar market," said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group. Among states, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh led in rooftop solar capacity additions, accounting for over 16 per cent, 14 per cent, and 13 per cent, respectively. Tenders for rooftop solar totalling 494.2 MW were issued in Q1 2025, representing a decline of over 53 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 41 per cent year-on-year. Of this, 82 per cent of the tendered capacity was for government buildings, and 39 per cent of it fell under the PM Surya Ghar programme. At the end of Q1 2025, India's cumulative rooftop solar capacity stood at 14.9 GW. The rooftop segment accounted for over 18 per cent of the total solar installations in the quarter. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest compounded quarterly growth rate between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 at more than 15 per cent, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Kerala at 11 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively. The average cost of rooftop solar systems rose by about 1 per cent quarter-on-quarter and nearly 22 per cent year-on-year in Q1 2025. The Mercom report also includes analysis of net metering policies in all states and Union Territories.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi Cabinet nod to Rs 30k subsidy for 3 kW rooftop solar panels
The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved providing Rs 30,000 subsidy on the installation of 3 kW rooftop solar panels (Rs 10,000 per kW) under the PM Surya Ghar scheme — the world's largest domestic rooftop solar initiative — increasing the total subsidy available to Rs 1.08 lakh. The Delhi government has introduced 'PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana State Top-Up' scheme to enhance the effectiveness and reach of the initiative. Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, the Centre provides Rs 78,000 subsidy for installing rooftop solar panels. The BJP government has allocated Rs 50 crore to install rooftop solar systems on 2.3 lakh residential units over the next three years. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stressed that the new subsidy allows consumers to access solar power solutions at zero initial cost while saving Rs 4,200 on their monthly electricity bills on average. She added that the government is partnering with financial institutions to offer easy loan options for the remaining installation cost of around Rs 90,000. To control pollution, the government approved a sanitation and dust control plan proposed by PWD. Under this, advanced cleaning machines will be procured for use on PWD roads. These included 250 water sprinkler machines integrated with anti-smog guns, 70 mechanical road sweeping machines integrated with 210 water sprinkler machines and anti-smog guns, 18 dump vehicles, and 18 water tankers. These machines are expected to be fully operational before the onset of winter, said the CM Office in a statement. Gupta added that the Environment Department will provide the necessary budget to the PWD for the deployment of the machines. These machines will be used exclusively for dust cleaning on roads and can be deployed across Delhi as needed, the statement further said. Also, the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Directorate of Education to reinstate the name of the scheme, namely 'Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship to Meritorious Students,' in place of 'Chief Minister Scholarship for Meritorious Students'. In 2019-20, the scheme was discontinued and restructured under a new name by the previous AAP government. Under the scheme, government school students from classes 7 to 12, who have secured 80% or more marks in the previous academic year, are awarded a scholarship of Rs 2,500 per annum.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PM surya ghar muft bijli yojana: Gujarat leads the charge in rooftop solar adoption
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat has emerged as a frontrunner in the adoption of rooftop solar energy under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, showcasing the transformative potential of well-executed policy and proactive citizen engagement. The state has surpassed its installation target of 3.05 lakh solar rooftop panels for the fiscal year 2024-25 ahead of schedule, demonstrating a robust commitment to renewable energy under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel . Data released by the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) reveals that as of May 11, 2025, Gujarat has installed 3.36 lakh solar rooftop panels, the highest number recorded by any state under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana . This remarkable achievement positions Gujarat as a significant contributor, accounting for 34% of the total rooftop solar installations under this national initiative. Furthermore, the Central Government has disbursed ₹2,362 crore in subsidies to 3.03 lakh consumers in Gujarat, underscoring the financial impetus provided by the scheme. In terms of successful implementation, Gujarat occupies the leading position among the top five states, followed by Maharashtra with 1.89 lakh installations, Uttar Pradesh with 1.22 lakh, Kerala with 95,000, and Rajasthan with 43,000. The environmental benefits of this widespread adoption are also significant. The 3.36 lakh solar rooftop systems installed in Gujarat have generated over 1,232 megawatts of energy, equivalent to 1,834 million units of conventional electricity production. According to GUVNL data, generating this quantum of energy through coal-based power plants would have necessitated the consumption of approximately 1,284 metric tonnes of coal. This shift towards solar energy has consequently prevented the emission of 1,504 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Launched in February 2024, the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to promote the adoption of solar energy at the household level by providing up to 300 units of free electricity and a subsidy of up to ₹78,000 for systems up to 3 kilowatts. The scheme is accessible to all homeowners with suitable rooftops, with a simplified online application process available at Gujarat's achievement in leading the nation in rooftop solar installations is a result of a collaborative effort between the state administration, central government support, and the enthusiastic participation of its citizens. This synergy highlights the importance of a multi-pronged approach in realizing ambitious renewable energy targets.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sanction free power connection to every eligible farmer, A.P. Energy Minister Ravi Kumar tells officials
Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar held a review meeting with the CMDs of Discoms (distribution companies) at the Secretariat on Thursday, wherein the focus was on the sanction of agricultural power connections, interrupts in power supply, progress of PM Surya Ghar, and projects taken up under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Mr. Ravi Kumar instructed the officials to resolve any issues that were impeding the sanction of agricultural power connections, the demand for which was growing, and told them to ensure that not even a single eligible farmer was deprived of the benefit of free power connection. Mr. Ravi Kumar told the officials to take all steps required to prevent unscheduled power cuts, and to give prior information about them to the public under unavoidable circumstances, and wanted pending power projects to be completed at the earliest. He told the CMDs to expedite the PM Surya Ghar programme and the RDSS projects. Central Discom CMD P. Pulla Reddy was present, and his counterparts I. Prudhvi Tej (EPDCL) and K. Santosh Rao (SPDCL) participated virtually.
