The Delhi Cabinet has approved significant amendments to its Solar Policy 2023, introducing a new household rooftop scheme designed to transform electricity consumers into power producers. This initiative will provide eligible households with rooftop solar systems at no upfront cost, while maintaining the existing power subsidy.
Free Solar Panels for Eligible Delhi Homes
Under the revised Delhi Solar Energy scheme, the government will cover the entire cost of rooftop solar systems up to 3 kilowatts for households that consume up to 400 units of electricity per month. This means qualifying consumers will incur no initial expenses for installation, and the scheme includes five years of maintenance support.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the decision aims to foster a 'Green Delhi' by encouraging widespread solar panel adoption. The government has set an ambitious target to connect over 200,000 households to the solar scheme by March 2027, striving to achieve 500 megawatts of solar capacity across the city.
Faster Net Metering Process Implemented
In a move to accelerate solar adoption, the Delhi government has drastically reduced the time required for the net metering process for domestic rooftop solar systems. The approval period has been cut from 75 days to a mere 25 days. This streamlined process allows homeowners to quickly feed surplus electricity generated by their solar panels back into the grid, receiving payment from power companies in return.
The implementation of the scheme will utilize a bidding process managed through IPGCL, ensuring efficient rollout and management.
Empowering Households as Electricity Producers
CM Gupta emphasized the government's objective to empower Delhi households to become electricity producers rather than solely consumers. "Our target is to create homes that can actually generate electricity," she noted, highlighting a shift towards energy independence and sustainability.
Currently, Delhi has 10,073 solar installations, predominantly on government buildings. The administration is also exploring solutions for homes with limited rooftop space to ensure broader participation in the green energy transition.
Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood reiterated that the policy amendment is a strategic step towards making electricity more affordable for consumers and accelerating the city's transition to clean energy sources.