According to research, India’s rooftop solar capacity expansion tripled to 1.3 GW from January to September 2021, compared to the same period a year ago.

According to Mercom India Market Report Q3 2021, the country added 448 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar in July-September this year, a 14% decrease from the 521 MW installed in April-June.

“India added 1.3 GW of rooftop in the first nine months of 2021, a 202% increase over the same period in 2020. (January to September). The number of installations in the first nine months of a year is at an all-time high,” the report stated.

Rooftop solar installations increased by 189% year over year in July-September (Q3) (YoY).

Residential rooftop solar accounted for 54% of rooftop installations in Q3 2021, followed by commercial & industrial (44%), and government (2%), respectively. For the second quarter in a running, residential installations were the highest.

“The rooftop market is recovering and returning to pre-COVID levels. However, rising component costs and material scarcity are putting a strain on the market, slowing growth. States have continued to impose limits on rooftop solar, making new construction difficult,” Mercom Capital Group CEO, Mr. Raj Prabhu stated.

According to the research, cumulative rooftop installations reached 6.7 GW by the end of Q3 2021.

Over 200 MW of rooftop solar projects were tendered in Q3, up 62% quarter over quarter and 125% year over year. Kerala State Electricity Board announced about 47% of the tenders, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company announced 24%, and other state nodal agencies announced 29%.

Tender activity to impanel vendors under Phase-II of MNRE’s Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Programme was also solid, according to the report.

Vendors are being sought to install residential rooftop systems in Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.

Gujarat has the most rooftop solar installations, with 26%, followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan, with 14% and 10%, respectively. The top ten states accounted for almost 83% of total rooftop solar installations in Q3 2021.

With a compounded quarterly installation growth of 35%, Uttarakhand led the way, followed by Maharashtra and Haryana with 31% and 29%, respectively.

Component prices have been constantly rising since the second Covid wave, with no indications of slowing down. According to the research, system costs increased steadily in 2021, with a 3.8% increase in Q1, a 3% increase in Q2, and a 2.3% increase in Q3. The cost of a rooftop system has climbed by 9% in the last year.

Installers are receiving a rising number of inquiries from consumers who recognize the financial and environmental benefits of going solar, according to the research.

The survey also highlights industries in the top six industrial states that could benefit from rooftop solar installations.

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