MSEDCL achieves milestone of 1GW domestic rooftop solar capacity

MUMBAI: State power utility firm, MSEDCL, has achieved a milestone of 1 GW (Gigawatt) installed capacity of domestic rooftop solar across Maharashtra under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana launched a year ago.The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024 to enable domestic consumers to get free electricity and also generate income by selling excess power generated.MSEDCL managing director Lokesh Chandra said, "This is an achievement for us on the eve of Independence Day. The number of domestic consumers who have installed rooftop solar power generation projects increased to more than 2.5 lakh in the last one and a half years, and their combined capacity reached 1,000 MW or 1 GW. A subsidy of Rs 1,870 crore was approved by the Union govt for these consumers."Chandra further said that it was chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who instructed all officials in MSEDCL to focus on the implementation of this scheme and provide subsidies in a transparent process. Nagpur district secured first place in the state in the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijalee Yojana for installing rooftop solar power generation projects with 40,152 beneficiary consumers and 157 MW capacity. Nagpur district is followed by Pune (19,195 consumers and 89 MW capacity), Jalgaon (18,892 consumers and 70 MW capacity), Amravati (15,245 consumers and 63 MW capacity), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (16,664 consumers and 59 MW capacity), and Nashik (15,468 consumers and 55 MW capacity).To take advantage of the scheme, it is necessary to register on the website https://pmsuryaghar.gov.in. Consumers can contact the Mahavitaran office for more information. Power consumers receive direct subsidies from the Central govt for installing solar power generation projects on the roof. A project with a capacity of 1 KW gets a subsidy of Rs 30,000, a project with a capacity of 2 KW gets a subsidy of Rs 60,000, and a project with a capacity of 3 KW gets a subsidy of Rs 78,000. Housing societies also get a subsidy of Rs 18,000 per KW up to 500 KW.The solar power generation project installed on the roof generates electricity for the next 25 years. This electricity generation meets the domestic needs of the consumer, and the excess electricity can be sold to MSEDCL, Chandra added.