Maharashtra No. 2 in cumulative rooftop solar installations in the country | Mumbai News – EQ
In Short : Maharashtra ranks second in India for cumulative rooftop solar installations. The state has made significant strides in adopting solar energy, contributing to the country’s renewable energy goals. This achievement highlights Maharashtra’s commitment to sustainable energy and its role in driving the growth of rooftop solar power in India.
In Detail : MUMBAI: Maharashtra has emerged as the second largest state in India, according to a latest report released by Mercom India. cumulative rooftop solar installationsnext Gujarat. Maharashtra’s contribution to the total photovoltaic (PV) installations in the country is an impressive 13.3%, as per the report. Sources said that Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) accounted for 8% of the state’s total installed rooftop capacity.
The report highlights that while India’s cumulative rooftop solar installations reached 11.6 GW till June, Maharashtra boasts of an installed capacity of 1.5 GW, second only to Gujarat with 3.2 GW. “Maharashtra also added the second largest rooftop solar installations during Q2 2024 — April-June — at 95 MW. Installations increased by 77% from 53.4 MW in the previous quarter that lasted from January-March,” the report said. Significantly, 74% of the quarterly capacity additions in the state were attributed to installations under Prime Minister – Surya Ghar Program.
State energy department officials attributed the increase to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) subsidy program, which provides 20% to 40% subsidy for solar installations. This initiative motivated many citizens and housing societies to adopt solar energy to partially or completely electrify their homes, bungalows and buildings. By generating solar power for the grid, residents not only benefited from the government subsidy but also saw their monthly electricity bills reduced by 50% or more.
Although the initial investment in solar power is significant, it is a one-time cost that comes with government support. Solar power can be used to power stair lighting, street lighting in community buildings, and even to heat water for bathing. Many communities have also introduced solar power to their gardens and other communal utilities, as the energy generated can be shared among all residents.
MSEDCL Managing Director Lokesh Chandra said the power utility has received over 1.3 lakh applications across Maharashtra, of which 26,000 rooftop solar installations have been completed and over 70,000 applications have been approved so far. MSEDCL is set to receive a subsidy of Rs 150 crore from the central government under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which will be distributed among power consumers. “The Union government’s decision to continue with this scheme will encourage more residential consumers to switch to solar power,” he said.
The Mercom report also revealed that renewable energy accounts for about 39% of Maharashtra’s energy mix, while solar energy accounts for about 15%. The state’s total solar installation capacity is about 7.5 GW. “The state has installed about 800 MW of large-scale solar projects in the first half of 2024. Maharashtra has about 17 GW of solar projects in the pipeline, most of which is under Mukhya Mantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana – 2.0,” the report added.
