Tamil Nadu govt’s top-up subsidy announcement for rooftop solar power plant installation under the PM Surya Ghar scheme has doubled enquiries and applications. While TN Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) has set 3,653 rooftop solar installations as the target for Trichy district till March 31, 2027, as many as 1,020 applications have already been received in just two months. Normally, it would take five to six months to receive 1,000 applications.
TNGECL said that the top-up subsidy from the state govt varying between a minimum of ₹5,000 for 1 kW capacity installation and a maximum of up to ₹22,000 for 3 kW rooftop solar unit will be available for applications submitted from Aug 5.
“Already, 183 rooftop solar plants have been installed in the last two months. The subsidy announcement made in the assembly has widely reached the people and our empanelled service providers are enthusiastic to tap the spurt in the demand,” an official with TNGECL said.
So far, people were enjoying only the Centre’s subsidy. People should apply for the scheme on the PM Surya Ghar online portal. Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) will acknowledge and approve the application based on the feasibility. Consumers can select an empanelled vendor and pay for the rooftop solar installation based on their individual consumption. TNPDCL will inspect and fix meters to commission the rooftop solar plant. Within a month, consumers will be reimbursed with the subsidies for which they are eligible from both state and Union govts, officials promised.
“Solar panels have 30 years’ life; routine maintenance involving cleaning and gentle washing will be sufficient. Consumers can get back the invested sum on rooftop solar plants in just three years,” K Muthuraman, executive engineer, Tangedco Trichy Urban, said.
Banks are providing loans for rooftop solar installations at low interest rates. The overall target for Trichy district under the PM Surya Ghar scheme has been fixed at 15,000 rooftop units for the period 2024-27, of which around 4,600 have been commissioned. TNGECL said that special outreach programmes for rooftop installation with subsidies are planned at Musiri and Mannarpuram units on Oct 13 and 14 respectively.
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