Free Solar Up to 3 KW in Delhi: What the New Rooftop Policy Means

Delhi’s revamped rooftop solar policy represents a significant attempt to make clean energy accessible to ordinary households by removing one of the biggest barriers to adoption: the upfront cost. Under the revised policy, eligible domestic consumers with average gross electricity consumption of up to 400 units a month can receive rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW at zero upfront cost, subject to technical feasibility.

The policy provides a Delhi government capital subsidy of up to ₹26,000 per kW, capped at ₹78,000 for systems up to 3 kW. Combined with the central subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, the government can cover the full cost for qualifying households. The programme targets 2.2 lakh residential rooftop installations, while the government has also set a broader target of adding 500 MW of rooftop capacity by March 2027.

The more important aspect, however, is the attempt to change the economics of rooftop solar. Through the DISCOM Trusteeship and Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) models, consumers can avoid the large initial investment normally associated with solar installation. Under the trusteeship model, the government-owned system is operated and maintained by vendors for the first five years before ownership transfers to the consumer.

For residential consumers, this could turn solar power from an investment requiring long-term planning into a more accessible household utility. Lower electricity expenses, greater energy independence and reduced dependence on conventional power could encourage wider adoption.

Yet implementation will determine whether the ambitious target becomes reality. Vendor capacity, installation quality, rooftop suitability, maintenance after the initial five years and efficient subsidy delivery will all matter.

Delhi’s experiment therefore goes beyond a subsidy programme. If executed effectively, it could provide a model for accelerating rooftop solar adoption in urban India, while demonstrating whether zero-upfront-cost financing can bring renewable energy to a much larger section of households.