The Indian government has approved the installation of over 13 lakh rooftop solar systems under the utility-led aggregation (ULA) model across 10 states and Union territories (UTs) to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy among low-income and vulnerable households. This initiative is part of the Centre's broader strategy to expand solar energy capacity as a cleaner and greener alternative to fossil fuel-based power generation.
States and UTs Leading the Way
Officials confirmed that Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have already commenced installations. Meanwhile, Bihar, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi have submitted proposals to the Centre for approval.
Targets Under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set an ambitious target of installing one crore rooftop solar systems across the country by March 2027 under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Of these, 30 lakh systems are to be deployed under the ULA model. To date, more than 31 lakh rooftop solar systems with a total capacity of 11.4 GW have been installed under this scheme.
Bridging the Gap for Poorer Households
Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, over 60% of rooftop installations fall in the 3-4 kW category, indicating lower participation from poorer households with less electricity demand. The ULA model aims to bridge this gap through utility-led deployment, enabling scale and providing financing support to make solar energy accessible to all.
