The Fine Print In India’s Solar Boom

Dear Reader,

India is pushing hard on rooftop solar: the government wants one crore households to go solar by March 2027.

As of last month, we’re only about a quarter of the way there.

While reporting this episode, I found two big reasons why the revolution is moving slower than expected.

First, lack of awareness.

When I casually asked my landlord about installing solar, he said he’d “consider it.” It was clear the idea had never really crossed his mind before.

Second, and more importantly, the economics don’t work for everyone.

Especially in rural India, where the government heavily subsidises electricity. Many families pay less than Rs 200 a month. For them, spending Rs 2-3 lakh on solar panels simply doesn’t make financial sense.

But for urban consumers with higher bills, the math changes completely.

Take Gaurav, a renewable energy consultant. His monthly bill used to hover around Rs 2,000-2,500. After installing a 3 kW system under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, he paid just Rs 20,000 upfront. Today, his electricity bill is often zero.

There’s just one catch most city dwellers face:

If you live in a high-rise apartment, you don’t own your roof. Installing solar requires the majority approval from your RWA. Structural concerns, cost-sharing disagreements, and aesthetics often slow things down, sometimes for months or years.

Still, almost everyone I spoke to who has installed solar says the same thing: they’re happy with their decision. Bills have dropped dramatically, and most expect to recover their investment in 4-6 years.

Listen to the latest episode of The Signal Brief to learn more.

You can find The Signal Brief on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Thank you once again for listening and supporting us. We’d love to hear from you; write to us at [email protected] or find us on Instagram or X at @thesignaldotco.

Best,
Kudrat
on behalf of The Core

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