Kerala is one of the most densely populated regions in the country. But, this small state located on India’s southwest coast also houses the world’s first solar-powered airport!
Cochin International Airport (CIAL). Equipped with a 50 MW solar plant, CIAL utilizes over 46,000 solar panels to meet its entire electricity needs, setting a global benchmark for sustainable aviation.
But is it worth installing a solar rooftop or ground-mounted solar plant in the state? Let’s answer that question by understanding the potential of solar in the state of Kerala.
Solar Subsidy in Kerala
Solar consumers in Kerala can avail of Central Financial Assistance (CFA). This solar subsidy is distributed under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, and is available across India. The state does not provide any additional solar subsidy. To avail the subsidy, consumers can submit their application on the National Portal for Rooftop Solar.
The subsidy is available to all residential consumers opting for on-grid and hybrid (without battery) solar power systems. However, consumers can only use Made in India and ALMM approved solar panels for the system.
The details of the subsidy are as follows:
| Plant Capacity | Subsidy |
|---|---|
| Up to 2kWp | ₹30,000/ kW |
| 3kWp | ₹78,000 |
| Over 3kWp Capacity | ₹78,000 (fixed) |
Solar Potential of Kerala
Kerala’s daily power consumption surpassed the 100 million units mark for the first time on March 11, 2024, and reached a record high of 115.96 million units on May 3, 2024. This surge in demand underscores the urgency of adopting renewable energy solutions.
The state boasts abundant sunlight, making solar energy a viable and sustainable option. As of February 2025, Kerala’s installed solar capacity stands at 1,723 MW, with rooftop solar systems contributing significantly to this total.
In 2023, Kerala announced plans to develop Thiruvananthapuram as a solar city. Under the project, the state government aimed to install solar panels on every rooftop. The Kerala Water Transport Department also deployed 15 electric solar-powered boats to reduce fossil-fuel-led pollution.
In 2024, Kerala was one of the 3 states with the highest number of rooftop solar installations.
Solar Policy
Kerala aims to become a 100% renewable energy state by 2040 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 as part of the Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change (2023-2030).
To accelerate solar adoption across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, the state has introduced key initiatives, including:
- Financial incentives like Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and support for energy storage solutions.
- New consumer programs such as Virtual Net Metering, Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading, and Time-of-Use Billing to boost participation.
- Infrastructure upgrades with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Pumped Storage Plants (PSPs), and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems for better grid integration.
Additionally, under the KSERC (Renewable Energy & Net Metering) Regulations, 2020, consumers can install solar systems up to 1 MW and avail net metering benefits.
(*Maximum Cost of the plant as per notification of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is 54,000/- per kWp.)
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We have also developed India’s first Integrated InRoof system- which turns solar panels into the roof and eliminates the need for sheet roofing.
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