Delhi Govt to Provide Free Rooftop Solar Panels to 2.3 Lakh Families in First Phase

The Delhi government has announced plans to provide free rooftop solar systems to more than 2.30 lakh families in the first phase, under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The announcement was made after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched a dedicated registration portal on September 21, 2026. Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis as part of the government’s initiative to expand rooftop solar adoption across the capital.

Under the initiative, domestic electricity consumers with monthly consumption of up to 400 units can receive rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW without upfront payment. The Central government provides a subsidy of up to ₹78,000, while the Delhi government has announced an additional ₹78,000, taking the combined support to up to ₹1.56 lakh for eligible systems. The Delhi Solar Portal confirms that the Central Financial Assistance is ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 per kW for the additional capacity up to 3 kW.

At the full 3 kW capacity, the first-phase target of 2.30 lakh households would represent up to 690 MW of rooftop solar capacity, if every beneficiary receives the maximum system size. A 3 kW solar system can generate around 300 units of electricity per month, according to the Delhi government’s September announcement, equivalent to roughly 3,600 units annually under that indicative generation level. Actual generation will vary depending on factors such as rooftop conditions, irradiation, system orientation and shading.

The programme is also designed to help households benefit from surplus solar generation. Consumers can export excess electricity to the grid, with payment linked to the average power purchase cost of the discom, according to the Chief Minister’s Office. Delhi’s solar policy also provides generation-based incentives for residential consumers, while the city’s broader solar policy targets 750 MW of installed rooftop solar capacity within Delhi. The new initiative could therefore give further momentum to residential solar adoption and strengthen the capital’s transition towards distributed renewable energy.

Resource: The Indian Express

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