Nagpur: From a mere 236 rooftop solar consumers a decade ago to nearly 1.2 lakh today, Nagpur district has emerged as Maharashtra's fastest-growing solar hub. The consumer base has expanded by an extraordinary 50,670% since 2016-17, while installed rooftop solar capacity has surged from 23.17 MW to 726.22 MW.
The growth has accelerated sharply over the past two years, largely driven by subsidies offered under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024. Data from MSEDCL shows that the number of rooftop solar consumers in Nagpur district has surged from just 236 consumers in 2016-17 to 1.19 lakh in 2026-27. This translates into a staggering 50,670% growth over the decade, making rooftop solar one of the fastest-growing segments in the district's renewable energy sector.
Capacity Growth Exceeds 3,000%
The growth is even more striking when viewed in terms of power generation capacity. Installed rooftop solar capacity has jumped from 23.17 MW in 2016-17 to 726.22 MW in 2026-27, an increase of more than 3,030%. The capacity added in Nagpur alone is now sufficient to meet the electricity requirements of several lakh households during daytime hours.
PM Surya Ghar Scheme Drives Acceleration
While the growth trajectory was steadily rising, the pace accelerated sharply after the launch of PM Surya Ghar scheme. It provides subsidies of Rs30,000 for 1 kW, Rs60,000 for 2 kW and Rs78,000 for 3 kW rooftop solar systems, making installations affordable for middle-class households. The impact is clearly reflected in the numbers.
Nagpur district had 8,761 rooftop solar consumers in 2023-24, just before the scheme gained momentum. The figure then jumped to 28,044 in 2024-25, almost tripled within a year, before rising further to 54,260 in 2025-26. With another 13,795 consumers already added in the current financial year, the total has reached nearly 1.2 lakh consumers. Significantly, over 91,000 rooftop solar consumers have been added since 2023-24, meaning nearly 77% of all existing rooftop solar consumers in Nagpur district came on board during the PM Surya Ghar era.
Capacity Addition Mirrors Consumer Growth
The rise in solar capacity has been equally dramatic. Installed capacity increased from 69.26 MW in 2023-24 to 154.95 MW in 2024-25 and then to 255.43 MW in 2025-26. The latest figures show cumulative capacity crossing 726 MW, indicating strong participation not only from households but also from commercial establishments, educational institutions and industries in large numbers.
Urban-Rural Divide
Nagpur city accounts for the lion's share of the growth with 1.01 lakh consumers and 560.73 MW capacity, while Nagpur Rural Circle has recorded 18,519 consumers with 165.49 MW capacity. Together, the two circles account for nearly 85% of the 1.42 lakh rooftop solar consumers recorded across Nagpur and Wardha districts.
