Nagpur, July 22, 2024**: Residents of Nagpur are at the forefront of adopting rooftop solar panels in Maharashtra, significantly contributing to the state’s renewable energy efforts. The city’s enthusiastic participation in the ‘Rooftop Solar’ scheme allows homeowners to use solar-generated electricity and sell any excess power to MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited).
Nagpur boasts 28,335 rooftop solar installations, out of the state’s total of 163,967, making it the top district in Maharashtra for such setups. These installations collectively generate 281 megawatts (MW) of power, accounting for 17.28% of the state’s total rooftop solar capacity.
Across Maharashtra, rooftop solar installations have reached a capacity of 2,258 MW. In the Nagpur region alone, including Wardha district, there are 31,580 rooftop solar setups with a combined capacity of 318 MW, representing 19.25% of the state’s total.
Rapid Growth
Seven years ago, only 1,074 customers in the state generated 20 MW of solar power through rooftop installations. This number has surged to 163,969 customers, with a capacity of 1,860 MW as of last year. In the current fiscal year, 5,376 new customers in the Nagpur region alone have added 34 MW of rooftop solar capacity.
The use of solar power reduces customers’ electricity consumption, leading to lower bills. Excess electricity generated is fed back into the grid, for which MSEDCL provides bill credits. In some cases, this results in zero electricity bills for the customers. The cost of installing solar panels is typically recovered within four to five years, with the panels lasting up to 25 years.
Government Support
Under the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, the central government provides subsidies up to ₹78,000 for rooftop solar projects. Subsidies are ₹30,000 for 1 kW capacity, ₹60,000 for 2 kW, and ₹78,000 for systems 3 kW or larger. The scheme allows customers to use solar-generated electricity for their homes and sell any excess to MSEDCL, often resulting in zero electricity bills.
To register for the scheme, customers can visit the PM-Suryaghar portal and choose a vendor for the rooftop solar installation. Once installed, the subsidy is directly credited to the customer’s account.
Solar energy benefits the environment and offers financial savings to customers. Dilip Dodke, Chief Engineer of MSEDCL’s Nagpur division, encourages more customers to participate in the Rooftop Solar scheme to enjoy these benefits and support sustainable energy initiatives.
