Solar surge: 24,000 rooftop systems give city 420MWp power

New Delhi: Delhi’s rooftop solar expansion has gathered momentum, with more than 24,000 consumers now generating electricity on their rooftops and contributing up to 420MW-peak to the city’s power grid, according to the latest figures of Delhi govt.

Rooftop solar adoption accelerated sharply during 2025-26 financial year pushed by subsidies under central govt’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, incentives under the Delhi solar policy and rising consumer awareness about long-term savings due to solar projects.

According to govt officials, BSES, which supplies electricity to south, west, east and central Delhi, has energised more than 13,600 rooftop solar net-metering connections with a cumulative capacity of nearly 258.5MWp. Tata Power-DDL, serving north and northwest Delhi, has got 10,466 rooftop solar installations completed with an installed capacity of 160.3MWp. Taken together, the discoms have connected over 24,000 rooftop solar systems with a combined capacity of 420MWp, making the city one of the leading urban rooftop solar markets in the country.

The biggest growth of more than 9,900 rooftop solar systems came during FY 2025-26, when BSES added a record 4,585 rooftop solar connections with 53.9MWp capacity and Tata Power-DDL saw an all-time high addition of 5,378 installations and 55.75MWp capacity.

An official said the central scheme was one of the biggest drivers behind this expansion. In BSES areas, over 4,100 systems were installed under the scheme, including around 2,600 in 2025-26 alone. Tata Power-DDL reported 4,375 similar installations.

BSES consumers with rooftop solar systems are collectively saving nearly Rs 197 crore every year on their electricity bills, according to officials. Commercial establishments account for the largest share of savings at around Rs 84 crore annually, followed by residential consumers at Rs 55 crore and educational institutions at Rs 33 crore.

For households, the savings can be particularly significant. A 5kW rooftop solar system can reduce electricity bills by more than Rs 3,500 per month, helping families save over Rs 40,000 annually. With subsidies available under PM Surya Ghar and the Delhi solar policy, most consumers are able to recover their investment in three to four years, after which the savings continue for the remaining life of the system.

These rooftop systems reduce a consumer’s need to buy power from the grid. During daylight hours, solar panels meet a significant portion of a home’s or business’ electricity demand, directly lowering billed consumption. Any surplus electricity can be exported to the grid through net metering, earning credits that are adjusted against future bills. Consumers also benefit from generation-based incentives available under the solar policy, while subsidies substantially reduce the upfront installation cost.

Together, lower grid consumption, net-metering credits, policy incentives and long-term solar generation make rooftop solar one of the most cost-effective energy investments for consumers.