Delhi: Rooftop solar registrations cross 1 lakh mark; outskirts lead adoption

New Delhi: Over one lakh power consumers have registered for solar rooftop connections within a month of the launch of a dedicated portal, as part of the Delhi government's initiative to provide 230,000 free installations by March 2027, officials said on Wednesday.

Delhi Power minister Ashish Sood said that the rising registration numbers were a milestone in clean energy.

"This progress is inspired by the "visionary leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his commitment to a sustainable, solar-powered India through the PM Surya Ghar initiative," Sood said.


Crediting this feat to the citizens of Delhi, he added, "Our people are stepping forward to make Delhi cleaner, greener, and energy independent.

Latest figures up to October 21 reveal there have been a total of 102,461 registrations, with the highest number, 37,168, coming from South and West Delhi areas served by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), officials said.

Additionally, 32,718 registrations were made by consumers in East and Central Delhi under BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), and 32,575 registrations from North and North West Delhi under Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL).

The adoption of solar energy shows distinct trends across different areas in Delhi, with city outskirts and industrial hubs like Bawana and Narela leading in registration numbers. These areas often have larger rooftops and open spaces, making them suitable for high-capacity installations, officials noted.

According to officials, urban residential clusters, including planned colonies in West, North, and Northwest Delhi, have also shown a strong response to solar rooftop adoption.

Group net-metering policies allow multi-story apartments to share solar benefits. Adoption of rooftop is also prompted by combined central and state subsidies, timely disbursal of incentives, and efficient net-metering approvals.

Power minister Sood said the enthusiasm in areas like Bawana and Narela, as well as planned residential colonies across Delhi is a positive sign and forms the backbone of the city's transition to greener energy.

"Our government is committed to ensuring that every citizen - whether living in an apartment, a plotted colony, or an informal settlement - can access the benefits of solar energy easily," he stated.

Last month, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the provision of 230,000 free rooftop solar power plants of 3 KW capacity each in the first phase of the 'Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana,' along with the launch of a portal for eligible power consumers to register.

Under this scheme, the Central government provides a subsidy of Rs 78,000, while the Delhi government will extend the subsidy of Rs 30,000, which will be further expanded to Rs 78,000 with a one-time, advance payment of a generation-based incentive.

"Under the updated Delhi Solar Energy Policy framework, we are combining state and central incentives to lower installation costs for families. The government is also actively working to streamline net-metering approvals, simplify digital processing, and ensure fast disbursal of subsidies directly to consumers," he said.

Sood emphasised that installing rooftop solar panels is not only about saving on monthly electricity bills; it directly contributes to reducing carbon emissions and provides cleaner air for future generations.