Consultations on Next Phase of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY)

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is engaging with industry and experts to discuss the future of the residential rooftop solar scheme, PMSGMBY, which concludes in March 2027.

Current Scheme Overview

• Total outlay of Rs 75,021 crore
• Targeting 1 crore households by FY27
• Installed capacity at 14.8 gigawatts (GW) with 50 lakh installations
• Rs 28,024 crore in subsidies released to beneficiaries

Key Suggestions and Considerations

• Proposals to integrate Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to store excess solar energy for non-solar hours usage, aiding grid balancing and operational flexibility for DISCOMs and SLDCs.
• Discussions on expanding the scheme to rural areas and developing Model Solar Villages in each district.

Current Status and Objectives

• Consultations are in preliminary stages; no specific decisions made yet.
• Aims to take a holistic view of the scheme, addressing challenges, and exploring enhancements for consumer experience and system growth.

Subsidy and Support Framework

• No decisions on changes to the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) or alternative mechanisms as of now.
• Continuous monitoring of scheme performance, market trends, and consumer response for evidence-based policymaking.

Economics and Impact

• Improved economics due to enhanced efficiencies, vendor ecosystem maturity, consumer awareness, and regulatory easing.
• The CFA has significantly boosted adoption and access to rooftop solar solutions.

Overall, the MNRE is actively working on enhancing the PMSGMBY to ensure its long-term success and increased adoption, particularly in rural areas.