In a significant move towards sustainable energy solutions, the Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. This groundbreaking initiative, launched on 13th February 2024, aims to install rooftop solar panels in one crore households, providing free electricity up to 300 units every month.
Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for Residential Rooftop Solar:
The scheme offers a Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 60% of the system cost for 2 kW systems and 40% of additional system cost for systems ranging from 2 to 3 kW capacity. The CFA is capped at 3 kW, translating to a subsidy of Rs 30,000 for 1 kW systems, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems, and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher.
Households can apply for the subsidy through the National Portal, where they can also select a suitable vendor for installing rooftop solar. The portal provides essential information such as appropriate system sizes, benefits calculators, vendor ratings, and more to assist households in their decision-making process.
Other Features of the Scheme:
- Model Solar Villages: Each district in the country will have a Model Solar Village, acting as a role model for the adoption of rooftop solar in rural areas.
- Incentives for Local Bodies: Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions will receive incentives for promoting rooftop solar installations in their respective areas.
- Financial Support for Innovative Projects: The scheme includes a component for payment security for RESCO-based models and a fund for innovative projects in rooftop solar.
Outcome and Impact:
The scheme not only enables households to save on electricity bills but also offers the opportunity to earn additional income through the sale of surplus power to DISCOMs. A 3 kW system can generate over 300 units a month on average for a household.
The projected impact of the scheme includes the addition of 30 GW of solar capacity through rooftop solar in the residential sector, generating 1000 BUs of electricity and reducing 720 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over the 25-year lifetime of rooftop systems.
It is estimated that the scheme will create approximately 17 lakh direct jobs in various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, sales, installation, O&M, and other services.
Availing Benefits of PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana:
Interested households can register on the official portal (https://pmsuryaghar.gov.in) to avail themselves of the benefits offered by the scheme.
