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					</table><p>Integrating battery energy storage with rooftop solar systems could improve residential power consumption and reduce reliance on the grid during non-solar hours, but it is expected to increase upfront costs and extend the payback period.</p>
<p>With about six months to go before the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana ends, the industry expects the government to extend the program, considering that the target of installing rooftop solar panels on 10 million households by March 2027 may be difficult to achieve.</p>
<p>As of August 2026, India&#8217;s rooftop installations under PM Surya Ghar have <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pm-surya-ghar-powers-5-million-homes-total-capacity-hits-15-gw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crossed</a> 5 million households since its launch in February 2024. Cumulative rooftop solar capacity additions have reached 14.8 GW.</p>
<p>Rooftop installers expect PM Surya Ghar 2.0 to provide for integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS) with rooftop solar systems.</p>
<p>Radhika Choudary, Co-founder and Director at <a href="https://freyrenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freyr Energy</a>, said battery integration would shift the focus from simply adding rooftop solar capacity toward increasing self-consumption while also providing greater flexibility to distribution companies (DISCOMs).</p>
<p>Agreeing with Choudary, Terrance Alex, Founder and CEO of <a href="https://wattsun.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wattsun Energy</a> said households equipped with at least 5 kWh of battery storage could meet a significant portion of their peak evening demand using stored energy.</p>
<p><strong>Costs, Sizing, and Viability</strong></p>
<p>However, installers said the biggest challenge would be the cost of batteries that consumers would have to incur and the impact on upfront investment and payback period. Proponents of rooftop solar have been harping on the benefit of a short payback period of below five years.</p>
<p>Alex estimated that grid-connected rooftop solar systems currently cost around ₹50,000 (~$527)/kW to ₹ 60,000 (~$632)/kW, while systems incorporating lithium-ion batteries could cost ₹90,000 (~$948)/kW to ₹100,000 (~$1,053)/kW. Adding batteries could nearly double the cost and prolong the payback period to around ten years from five.</p>
<p>Choudary said the higher upfront expenditure would come not only from battery packs but also from battery management systems, hybrid inverters, protection equipment, and installation costs.</p>
<p>It is not yet clear whether PM Surya Ghar, if extended, will specify storage for what capacity of rooftop solar systems. But installers said battery integration could make economic sense for systems of at least 3 kW to 5 kW.</p>
<p>Alex said the speculation is that the government may mandate a storage requirement equivalent to around 30% of project capacity for rooftop systems above 3 kW. However, he cautioned that requiring storage equivalent to 50% of project capacity for larger apartment projects could undermine their viability.</p>
<p>Ajay Yadav, President of <a href="https://www.rear.org.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renewable Energy Association of Rajasthan</a>, however, felt that storage capacity should be around 50% for residential systems, particularly those of 5 kW and above.</p>
<p>According to Tinsu Mathew, Managing Director at <a href="https://elsol.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EL Sol Power Solutions</a>, the industry expects a storage mandate for rooftop solar systems of up to 10 kW. However, he cautioned that the additional cost could reduce rooftop solar adoption by at least 20%. He hoped the government will avoid making storage mandatory.</p>
<p>According to Mercom estimates, India has an average conversion rate below 50% for PM Surya Ghar applications. Linking storage to the rooftop solar program could reduce it further but would come with additional benefits for consumers.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-104712 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1.png" alt="Solar-Plus-Storage Under PM Surya Ghar 2.0 May Hinge on Subsidy Levels" width="1539" height="820" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1.png 1539w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1-300x160.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1-768x409.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1-1536x818.png 1536w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1-650x346.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1-624x332.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/conversion1-600x320.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1539px) 100vw, 1539px" /></a> <span style="font-size: 16px;">Choudary instead favored a load-based approach. She said storage would be most relevant for households with higher evening consumption and larger rooftop systems, and that any threshold should account for consumer load profiles, battery economics, and DISCOM requirements.</span></p>
<p><strong>Incentives for Storage </strong></p>
<p>Given the higher capital expenditure associated with batteries, installers said the viability of PM Surya Ghar 2.0 would depend heavily on the level and structure of government financial assistance.</p>
<p>Under the existing program, central financial assistance is ₹30,000 (~$316)/kW for up to 2 kW and ₹18,000 (~$190)/kW for the additional capacity up to 3 kW, with the subsidy capped at ₹78,000 (~$822) for systems of 3 kW and above. Various states have also announced top-up subsidies.</p>
<p>Existing guidelines permit battery storage, but financial assistance is calculated based on solar module capacity rather than battery capacity. However, this could change if the subsidy pivots to the storage component.</p>
<p>Stakeholders differed on how subsidies under the proposed program should be structured.</p>
<p>Alex suggested financial assistance of around ₹100,000 (~$1,053.05) for a 3 kW solar-plus-storage system if batteries are mandated and the existing solar subsidy continues.</p>
<p>Yadav said one possible approach would be to reduce or remove subsidies for the solar component and direct financial assistance primarily toward battery storage. Consumers would be more likely to adopt storage if government support directly offsets battery costs.</p>
<p>He estimated that adding storage could extend the payback period for residential rooftop systems by around 1.5 years.</p>
<p>International experience also shows that incentives can play an important role in creating an early market for residential storage. In the U.S., federal incentives historically provided a 30% tax credit for eligible residential battery storage systems.</p>
<p>“There will always be a chicken-and-egg problem with a new market. Battery costs need to come down for residential storage to scale, but the market also needs scale for costs to come down. We have seen in the U.S. how incentives for solar and battery storage helped improve project economics and accelerate adoption. India has to start somewhere. Bringing battery storage under PM Surya Ghar and providing meaningful incentives can help create that initial demand and build the scale needed for the market to develop. As volumes increase, competition grows, manufacturing expands, and the supply chain matures, costs should start coming down, making storage increasingly viable without the same level of government support,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group.</p>
<p>Mathew favored separate subsidies for rooftop solar and battery storage, arguing that support for both components would be necessary to keep solar-plus-storage systems economically viable for households.</p>
<p>Installers say that with current battery technology offering around 6,000 cycles, these hybrid projects could be viable, as the battery would need replacement only after 15 years.</p>
<p><strong>Impact of State Storage Mandates</strong></p>
<p>Even before a potential nationwide storage mandate from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>), some state DISCOMs and regulators have pushed for storage integration with rooftop solar. Installers operating in these markets say rooftop solar can remain viable despite the additional cost of batteries.</p>
<p>The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission has mandated storage equivalent to 50% of the installed capacity for projects above 100 kW. But households may not be installing systems of that high capacity.</p>
<p>Maharashtra-based Installers said that the higher upfront investment may reduce consumer savings, but rooftop solar can <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/maharashtras-storage-mandate-reshapes-rooftop-solar-economics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remain</a> economically attractive given the state’s relatively high grid tariffs. The storage requirement has also been accompanied by changes to power banking rules, with banking restricted to solar generation hours.</p>
<p>The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a draft proposal for a 30% storage requirement for rooftop solar systems between 3 kW and 5 kW. The Kerala High Court has since stayed the provision. Installers said even the draft proposal temporarily affected demand.</p>
<p>However, over the past year, Kerala’s residential rooftop market has seen <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/kerala-begins-shifting-toward-solar-plus-storage-as-rooftop-market-matures" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growing</a> interest in solar-plus-storage systems even without a mandate, as more consumers recognize the potential benefits and economic viability of battery-backed solar.</p>
<p>“The objective should not be to subsidize batteries indefinitely. Incentives can be used to get the market to a scale where transaction volumes increase, the supply chain develops, competition increases as installers gain experience, and costs start declining. Solar followed a similar path. Storage will need an initial push as well,” Prabhu added.</p>
<p><strong>Regulatory Support</strong></p>
<p>Industry stakeholders said subsidies alone would not be sufficient to enable large-scale deployment of residential solar-plus-storage systems.</p>
<p>Yadav said a clear framework governing battery charging and discharging should accompany PM Surya Ghar 2.0 to improve project economics.</p>
<p>Stakeholders also called for regulatory clarity on hybrid system design before solar-plus-storage systems are deployed at scale.</p>
<p>Yadav also raised concerns about the safety of residential battery installations, noting that many installers currently participating in the PM Surya Ghar program have limited experience with battery energy storage systems.</p>


Solar-Plus-Storage Under PM Surya Ghar 2.0 May Hinge on Subsidy Levels


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					</table><p>Residential rooftop systems have been driving India’s rooftop solar capacity additions, especially after the introduction of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana in 2024. Over 5 million households have benefited from the program so far.</p>
<p>According to Mercom&#8217;s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/rooftop-solar-market-report-q2-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Q2 and 1H 2026 India Rooftop Solar Market Report</a>, residential installations accounted for 84% of the total rooftop solar additions in the country during the second quarter of the calendar year 2026,</p>
<p>Apartment complexes are increasingly turning to rooftop solar to  lower common area electricity expenses, limit exposure to rising grid tariffs, and meet a part of their daytime power requirements through on-site generation.</p>
<p>Common loads such as lifts, water pumps, lighting, security systems, swimming pools, and other shared facilities can make residential complexes suitable for rooftop solar installations, particularly where adequate roof space is available.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ppdindia.com/projects/vintage-view-luxury-flats-kowdiar-trivandrum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vintage View</a>, a residential apartment complex in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has installed a 20 kW rooftop solar system to reduce its electricity bills.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wattsun.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wattsun Energy India</a> installed the solar system. According to the installer, high electricity bills were the primary reason for adopting rooftop solar.</p>
<p>Before the solar installation, the property consumed approximately 75 kWh to 100 kWh of electricity per day. Monthly consumption ranged from around 2,200 kWh to 3,000 kWh, corresponding to annual electricity consumption of approximately 27,000 kWh to 36,000 kWh.</p>
<p>The rooftop installation is expected to generate approximately 2,400 kWh of electricity per month.</p>
<p>Based on Wattsun&#8217;s estimates, the installation could result in electricity bill savings of ₹19,200 (~$202) to ₹24,000 (~$252) per month. Annual savings are estimated at approximately ₹230,000 (~$2,415) to ₹288,000 (~$3,024).</p>
<p>The installer expects the investment to achieve full payback for the apartment complex within 3.5 to four years.</p>
<p>The project uses Adani Solar modules rated above 550 W and a Sungrow inverter. The modules have been installed on a galvanized steel mounting structure.</p>
<p>Limited rooftop space and shade from surrounding obstructions were among the main challenges that the Wattsun team faced while executing the project. Wattsun designed an elevated mounting structure to improve solar exposure while allowing the area underneath the installation to remain usable.</p>
<p>The company also used a non-invasive anchoring system for the structure. Wattsun handled coordination with the distribution company for net metering and grid approvals.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our experience combined with our zest for innovation helps us develop solar solutions that stand the test of time. We are committed to delivering top-tier quality using tier-1 components to ensure optimal performance, maximum energy savings, and a swift return on investment for our clients,&#8221; said Terance Alex, Founder and CEO of Wattsun Energy.</p>
<p>Last October, Wattsun Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cyberpark-kozhikode-300-kw-solar-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executed</a> a 300 kW rooftop solar system at the Cyberpark in Kozhikode, Kerala, to advance its sustainability goals and make productive use of parking and shaded areas.</p>
<p>To raise awareness about the benefits of solar projects, Mercom India hosts a pan-India C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet series, bringing renewable energy developers and commercial and industrial power consumers together to discuss clean energy adoption. The next event in the series will be held in <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2026-vizag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visakhapatnam</a> on September 24, 2026.</p>


Kerala Apartment Complex Targets Lower Power Bills with Rooftop Solar


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					</table><p>Aiming to advance its sustainability goals and make productive use of parking and shaded areas, <a href="https://cyberparks.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cyberpark</a> in Kozhikode, Kerala, has commissioned a 300 kW rooftop solar system executed by <a href="https://wattsun.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wattsun Energy</a>.</p>
<p>The project was driven by Cyberpark’s vision to reduce grid dependence while turning underutilized car park spans into power generation assets. Before opting for solar, the campus consumed roughly 2.9 GWh of electricity annually. The new system is projected to lower annual power expenses by around 20%, with an estimated payback period of 2.5 years.</p>
<p>Wattsun deployed Rayzon solar modules paired with Polycab inverters for reliable, high-yield performance in coastal conditions. The mounting solution combines hot-dip galvanized iron structures for the car parks with site-specific rooftop structures across other buildings.</p>
<p>Engineering and civil works presented notable challenges while installing the solar systems. During execution, geotechnical checks revealed loose soil conditions in the proposed parking zones, temporarily halting progress for additional testing and structural strengthening. Wattsun addressed this by reinforcing the foundations and upgrading the car park with steel structures to safely bear the combined load of the modules, wind forces, and daily vehicular activity.</p>
<p>“The 300 kWp solar project at Cyberpark Kozhikode reflects Wattsun’s commitment to delivering clean, reliable energy solutions for Kerala’s growing tech sector. It stands as a model of how sustainable infrastructure can reduce grid dependence and drive the state toward a carbon-neutral future,” said Terance Alex, Founder and CEO at WattSun Energy.</p>
<p>Wattsun had previously <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/hll-lifecare-1-mw-rooftop-solar-cut-cost-boost-sustainability/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">installed</a> a 1 MW rooftop solar system at the premises government-owned healthcare products manufacturer HLL Lifecare in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.</p>
<p>Commercial and industrial (C&amp;I) consumers, especially IT and services campuses, are increasingly adopting solar to hedge rising tariffs, improve resilience, and meet corporate sustainability targets. By combining rooftop arrays with shaded carport structures, campuses like Cyberpark can unlock additional surface area for generation without compromising usable space for employees and visitors.</p>
<p>Mercom India hosts a multicity ‘C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet’ series designed to provide C&amp;I energy buyers with the knowledge and tools they need to adopt clean energy solutions and lower their power costs. The next C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet will be held in <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/c-and-i-clean-energy-meet-2025-bhubaneswar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bhubaneswar</a> on November 14, 2025.</p>


Cyberpark Kozhikode Adds 300 kW Solar Project to Power its IT Campus

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