Installation of residential rooftop solar systems remains low in Tamil Nadu compared to the neighboring state of Kerala, mainly due to lack of awareness and the need for more attractive subsidy schemes, according to solar industry stakeholders.
According to a study titled “Advancing Distributed, Equitable Solar Energy in Tamil Nadu” by Auroville Consulting released last month, penetration (% of rooftop solar to annual demand) is 8.07% in Kerala and 6.43% in Gujarat as against 1.55% in Tamil Nadu. The total installed rooftop solar in Tamil Nadu is 1.13 GW, 1.44 GW in Kerala and 5.84 GW in Gujarat.
AD Thirumoorthy, member of the State Renewable Energy Committee, told The Hindu that although general awareness about residential solar rooftops is better than in earlier years, it is still low in the state. For those who use 200 units or less of energy, a solar roof is not viable. The state utility should push the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar scheme so that more residents install it, he said.
Solar Association of India President C. Narasimhan said the take-up is slow in Tamil Nadu because “the state government is not interested or involved. It is more focused on free energy. The Tamil Nadu government should take steps to improve public awareness. For a maximum of three kilowatt (kW) installed rooftop solar capacity of consumers in the country, the subsidy provided under the PM Surya Ghar8₂ scheme alone should be 1 00 ₂ lakh and bank loans are easy available as they fall under the priority scheme,” he said.
N. Pradeep, Secretary, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, said the subsidy available under the scheme should be increased. The maximum equipment eligible for subsidy under the scheme should be increased to 10 kW and the subsidy should be higher.
Five units of energy can be produced per day per kW of rooftop solar system. The average generation per month is therefore 150 units. This, he said, will not provide much relief to the consumer compared to the investment that will be made.
Karthic, co-founder of HelioGrid, a startup incubated at Forge in Coimbatore, said the out-of-pocket costs can come down for consumers if the efficiency of solar power systems improves. HelioGrid works on rooftop solar systems that provide 22.5% more energy and 7% more installation costs. This is attractive to consumers and the company has seen more installs in the last four months.
The study said national schemes like PM Surya Ghar and KUSUM-C (IPS) offer up to 60% subsidy and concessional loans to households and farmers. By targeting low-income groups and small landowners, the state can use these programs not only to accelerate the deployment of clean energy, but also to reduce the subsidy burden, stimulate local employment, and contribute to decarbonization goals.
State policy should be clear, stable regulation of solar and grid metering, efficient, user-friendly application processes, extensive consumer awareness campaigns, and consistent and appropriate fiscal incentives.
Published – 8 Nov 2025 20:01 IST
