The Growth of Commercial Rooftop Solar in India: A Game-Changer for Businesses

India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in renewable energy, targeting 500 GW of capacity by 2030, with solar power expected to contribute 280 GW. Rising electricity costs and increasing sustainability commitments are driving commercial and industrial (C&I) solar rooftop installations, making them a key pillar in India’s clean energy transition.

As of today, India’s grid-connected rooftop solar capacity has reached 24.30 GW, contributing to the nation’s total solar power capacity of 100+ GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Commercial rooftop solar involves installing solar panels on business and commercial building rooftops, allowing them to generate their electricity, reduce grid dependence, and lower operational costs. This scalable solution benefits industries such as manufacturing, textiles, educational institutions, and government facilities.

1. Lower Electricity Costs

By installing solar rooftop, businesses can significantly reduce their dependence on grid electricity and diesel generators, leading to long-term energy cost savings. Solar power offers a stable and predictable energy cost, shielding businesses from rising electricity tariffs.

2. High ROI & Short Payback Period

With declining solar panel prices and financing options like OPEX (operational expenditure) and RESCO (renewable energy service company) models, businesses can adopt solar with minimal upfront investment. The average payback period ranges between 3 to 5 years, after which companies benefit from free electricity for decades.

3. Government Incentives & Policies

Although direct subsidies for commercial and industrial (C&I) solar are limited, businesses can take advantage of policies like net metering, which allows them to offset electricity costs by feeding excess power into the grid. Additional benefits include accelerated depreciation (AD), which enables faster tax savings, and various state-specific incentives that reduce installation costs.

4. Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility

Transitioning to solar energy helps businesses meet their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. It reduces carbon emissions, enhances sustainability credentials, and ensures compliance with global and national environmental regulations, boosting brand reputation and stakeholder confidence.

As solar adoption increases, businesses are now moving beyond just generation. The next logical step is energy storage system integration.

Rooftop solar produces maximum power during the day. However, industrial operations often run beyond daylight hours, and grid outages can disrupt productivity. This is where advanced commercial energy storage systems play a critical role.

Integrating a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) allows businesses to:

• Store excess solar power for later use
• Reduce peak demand charges
• Ensure uninterrupted backup power
• Improve energy independence
• Stabilize power quality

For commercial and industrial facilities, a compact and reliable storage solution like Unity Model A can enhance the overall value of rooftop solar investments.

Unity Model A is designed specifically for C&I applications. It integrates long-life batteries, an advanced Battery Management System (BMS), high-performance Power Conversion System (PCS), intelligent cooling, and active fire protection in a high-protection-grade outdoor cabinet. Its independent battery and electrical compartment design improves safety, thermal management, and operational reliability.

Because of its optimized BMS and intelligent cooling system, Unity Model A maintains consistent performance while simplifying maintenance. It is ideal for:

• Backup power during grid outages
• Peak-load management to reduce demand charges
• Renewable energy integration for solar rooftop systems

By pairing rooftop solar with a solution like Unity Model A, businesses can move from simply generating solar power to actively managing and optimizing their entire energy ecosystem.

Several large-scale rooftop solar projects highlight the sector’s potential:

• Arvind Limited (Gujarat): Installed a 16.2 MW rooftop solar system at its Santej facility, the largest of its kind at a single location in India. It generates 22 million units annually.
• RSSB Educational & Environmental Society (Punjab): A 12 MW rooftop solar project spanning 8 venues at Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Amritsar. It generates over 15 million units annually, offsetting more than 19,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Currently, the Indian government primarily offers subsidies for residential rooftop solar installations under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. However, businesses can benefit from various financial incentives, tax benefits, and policy support to reduce costs and improve returns on investment.

• Accelerated Depreciation (AD): 40% depreciation in the first year reduces tax liability.
• GST Benefits: 12% GST on solar equipment and Input Tax Credit (ITC) availability.
• Net Metering & Banking: Excess power can be fed into the grid for credits.
• Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): Businesses can earn RECs and sell them in energy markets.
• OPEX & RESCO Models: Solar adoption without upfront investment via Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
• State-Specific Incentives: Policies vary across states, such as electricity duty exemptions in Rajasthan.

With advancements in solar technology, energy storage solution, digital monitoring, and supportive policy frameworks, India’s commercial rooftop solar market is entering a high-growth phase.

Businesses are no longer just looking at solar as a cost-saving tool. They are viewing it as an energy strategy — one that combines generation, storage, and intelligent management to ensure resilience, sustainability, and long-term profitability.

Integrating solutions like Unity Model A with rooftop solar enables businesses to maximize self-consumption, reduce grid risk, and achieve greater operational control.

Ornate Solar has successfully completed a 1 MWp rooftop solar installation at VVDN Technologies’ Manesar facility in Haryana.

Spanning 78,181 sq. ft. and equipped with 10 fully automatic cleaning robots, this project is a testament to innovation and sustainability.

Products Used:

• 1710 Renewsys TOPCon Bifacial Glass-to-Glass 585Wp panels
• 7 Havells Enviro GTi KT 100kW solar inverters

This installation reinforces VVDN Technologies’ commitment to clean energy while optimizing efficiency through advanced solar technology

VVDN Technologies is a global leader in end-to-end engineering, manufacturing, and digital solutions. With expertise in product design, software development, and hardware engineering, VVDN empowers industries like IoT, automotive, and networking to bring innovative ideas to life.

With over a decade of experience in product engineering and manufacturing, VVDN provides customers with seamless, end-to-end solutions—all under one roof. Their comprehensive services include hardware, software, mechanical design, testing, prototyping, certification, and large-scale manufacturing.

VVDN’s India headquarters is located at Global Innovation Park, Manesar, Gurugram, while its North America headquarters is in Fremont, California, USA. Recognized as India’s fastest-growing Electronics Product Engineering and Manufacturing Company, VVDN boasts 11+ design centers, 7 manufacturing units, and a presence across 6 countries.

For businesses aiming to reduce electricity costs, enhance sustainability, and gain energy independence, commercial rooftop solar is truly a game-changer.

And when combined with advanced energy storage solutions, it becomes even more powerful to transforming rooftops into intelligent energy assets that support growth, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.

India’s clean energy transition is accelerating. The question is no longer whether businesses should adopt rooftop solar but how strategically they implement it.

Also Read:

CAPEX vs OPEX Solar: Differences, Benefits and How to Choose the Right Model

Ground-Mounted Solar Power Plants: Types, Benefits, Costs, Subsidies, and Real-World Case Studies

Ornate Solar is a leading solar company with 10 years of experience in the industry and the mission to reimagine the way solar is installed worldwide.

By not only partnering with the best-in-class solar brands but also developing our high-quality solutions, (panels, solar inverter, accessories, InRoof), we develop and deliver solutions that are modern, reliable, and effective.

Ornate Solar is also a trusted BESS manufacturer in India. We have developed UnityESS, an advanced energy storage solution to provide reliable power and energy independence.

If you are looking for high-quality solar solutions, reach out to us at 1800 2026 252 to discuss your options.