Turn Your Flat Into a Powerhouse: India’s New Solar Policy Makes It Possible

Turn Your Flat Into aIndia has turned the solar dream into a reality for millions of apartment and flat dwellers, following a far-reaching policy change that puts rooftop solar in the reach of city dwellers who don't have private roof ownership. Here's how the latest government steps will transform solar adoption in cities.

 

Key Points

Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) Reality Now

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced operational guidelines in June 2024 for the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, facilitating group net metering and VNEM. This allows apartment dwellers and tenants to benefit from a common solar installation, although they are not owners of the roof.

 

Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for Flats

Installations under group net metering and VNEM are being made eligible for liberal central subsidies, reducing the cost of solar for housing societies and renters.

 

State-Level Implementation Underway

Others such as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have already done so through regulatory orders, but a uniform national policy is yet to come. It is every state's power regulator that makes its own standards and approval process.

 

Simplified Procedure and Direct Subsidies

Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the families can be provided with up to ₹78,000 subsidy, with the process facilitated through an online portal and the approvals within 14 days.

 

Free Electricity and Surplus Income

Flat dwellers can now make up to ₹15,000 every year on their electricity bills and make money from selling excess power back to the grid, up to 300 units of free electricity a month.

 

Ambitious National Targets

The government plans to deploy rooftop solar in 1 crore (10 million) homes and increase residential solar capacity to 40,000 MW by 2026, in addition to India's ambition to triple renewable capacity by 2030. What's Next Though the policy goal is well-defined and financial incentives are as powerful as ever, on-ground implementation in reality—i.e., uniform adoption of VNEM across all states—is still a problem. Experts are calling on the Forum of Regulators to issue model guidelines so that solar is accessible to all urban Indians, irrespective of the state. 

 

Source: The Economic Times, Tata Power, ClearTax