Delhi free solar panel scheme: Govt to provide 3 kW rooftop panels at zero installation cost for households using up to 400 units a month; How to apply

Delhi households with average monthly electricity consumption of up to 400 units could soon get 3 kW rooftop solar systems without paying the installation cost upfront, under the revised Delhi Solar Energy Policy approved by the Cabinet. The government has set a target of covering around 2.30 lakh households and adding 500 MW of rooftop solar capacity by March 2027.

The scheme is designed to remove the biggest barrier that has kept many households from installing rooftop solar: the initial cost. Eligible consumers will receive the systems at zero upfront cost, subject to technical feasibility, while existing electricity subsidies will continue for eligible consumers. However, the Delhi government has not yet announced a separate application window specifically for this newly approved zero-cost scheme.

Who is eligible for free 3 kW solar panels in Delhi?

Under the revised policy, domestic consumers with average monthly electricity consumption of up to 400 units in the 2025-26 financial year will be eligible for rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW, subject to technical feasibility. The government plans to cover approximately 2.30 lakh households by March 2027.


The zero-upfront-cost model is a major change from the earlier arrangement, under which consumers generally had to make an initial payment for installation before receiving subsidies or incentives later.

The government will provide financial support at the installation stage so that eligible households do not have to bear the initial expense.

How much subsidy will households get?

For a 3 kW rooftop solar system, the Central government subsidy under PM Surya Ghar is Rs 78,000. The Delhi government will provide another Rs 78,000 as capital subsidy and will provide an additional top-up to cover the difference between the subsidy amount and the tendered cost of the solar plant.

This means the eligible consumer does not have to arrange the installation cost upfront under the new Delhi model.

The Delhi Solar Portal currently lists both the Central PM Surya Ghar subsidy and Delhi's state subsidy as part of the rooftop solar support framework.

Will Delhi's electricity subsidy stop after installing solar panels?

No. The Delhi government has said the existing electricity subsidy will continue for eligible consumers.

For households consuming up to 200 units a month, the existing 100 per cent electricity subsidy will continue even after the rooftop solar system is installed. This means eligible households can benefit from the electricity subsidy as well as the electricity generated by their rooftop solar system.

A 3 kW solar system can generate around 300 units of electricity. Therefore, a household consuming around 200 units could potentially generate more electricity than it uses during suitable generation conditions.

Can households earn by selling surplus solar power?

Yes. If a household generates more electricity than it consumes, the surplus can be exported to the grid through net metering.

The government has said consumers will be paid for electricity exported to the grid at the applicable rate based on the Discom's average power purchase cost. This means the scheme is not limited to reducing electricity bills. Eligible households can also become small-scale electricity generators and receive payment for surplus power.

How to apply for Delhi's free solar panel scheme?

This is where an important distinction needs to be made.

The Delhi government has not yet announced a separate application process or registration window specifically for the newly approved zero-upfront-cost 3 kW rooftop solar scheme covering 2.30 lakh households.

The official Delhi Solar Portal currently has a Citizens Corner with options to apply for rooftop solar under the existing PM Surya Ghar scheme and the Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023.

For the existing PM Surya Ghar process, residential consumers can submit an online application through the national PM Surya Ghar portal. The Delhi Solar Portal states that online applications can be submitted through the national portal.

The existing Central scheme requires an eligible consumer with a valid electricity consumer account number to apply through the national portal. The consumer can then choose a registered rooftop solar vendor through the portal.

However, consumers should not assume that applying through the existing PM Surya Ghar route automatically enrols them in the newly announced Delhi zero-upfront-cost scheme. The revised policy has only just been approved, and the government has not yet published a separate application procedure for the 2.30 lakh-household rollout.

The Delhi Solar Portal has already been updated to show the rooftop solar application options, but its current pages still refer to the Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023 and the existing PM Surya Ghar process.

The government has said that the programme will be implemented through a utility-led aggregation model. Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited, or IPGCL, will select vendors through competitive bidding and will be involved in installation, vendor coordination, consumer assistance and grievance redressal.

Therefore, consumers waiting specifically for the new free 3 kW system should look for the Delhi government's official application notification before assuming that an existing rooftop solar application is registration for the new scheme.

What happens after installation?

The government-installed systems will come with free operation and maintenance for the first five years. The vendors concerned will be responsible for maintaining the systems during this period.

After five years, consumers can opt for maintenance and insurance facilities through their electricity distribution companies, according to the government's announcement.

The policy also seeks to make the administrative process faster. The government has reduced the residential net metering process from around 75 days to 25 days. Application and registration fees for residential solar systems of up to 10 kW have also been waived.

Delhi's 500 MW rooftop solar target

The revised policy aims to add 500 MW of additional rooftop solar capacity by March 2027 while installing systems on around 2.30 lakh homes.

The scale-up is significant because Delhi currently has around 10,000 solar installations, with a large number located on government buildings. The government wants the revised policy to push rooftop solar beyond government properties and into ordinary households.

For eligible households, the policy combines several benefits: zero upfront installation cost, continued electricity subsidy where applicable, savings from self-generated electricity, the possibility of earning from surplus power and five years of free operation and maintenance.

For now, the key point for residents is that eligibility has been announced, but the dedicated application process for the new 2.30 lakh-household free solar scheme has not yet been separately notified.