Homes and housing
Residential rooftops, apartments, housing societies, PM Surya Ghar, net metering and home backup.
SolarCost.in library
Solar guides for India
Understand solar at home, at work, on farms and across the power grid. Start with how solar is used or browse the subject you need.
Solar by use
Choose the setting
The technology may look similar, but the rules, costs and decisions change with the type of project.
Business and industry
Onsite solar, open access, project costs, finance and operating performance for commercial and industrial users.
Solar farms and the grid
Large projects, solar parks, storage, transmission, tenders, generation and grid policy.
Farms and off-grid use
Solar pumps, feeder solarisation, mini grids and systems beyond a standard grid connection.
Why the library is broad
Most solar capacity is not on a home roof
MNRE reported 168.04 GW of solar capacity on 31 August 2026. Ground-mounted plants made up 123.99 GW. Grid-connected rooftops made up 32.59 GW.
Source: MNRE physical progress data. Figures change as new projects are commissioned.
Updates and explainers
Recent India solar coverage
News matters when it changes a scheme, rule, market or project decision. Each update links back to the wider subject.
Farm solar guide · 5 September 2026
PM-KUSUM solar pump subsidy
Current scheme status, subsidy formula, state applications, pump sizing and fraud checks.
Policy update · Reviewed 5 September 2026
PM Surya Ghar crosses 50 lakh homes
Official numbers, finance, vendors, process changes and checks for households.
Scheme guide · Reviewed 13 September 2026
PM Surya Ghar subsidy and application steps
Amounts, eligibility, documents, status, vendor checks and the DISCOM process.
Business solar guide · Reviewed 13 September 2026
Commercial rooftop solar cost
Compare 10 kW to 100 kW cost, quotes, load, finance and cautious savings.
Utility solar guide · Reviewed 13 September 2026
1 MW solar power plant cost
Check land, cost blocks, generation, buyer terms and grid risk.
Solar thermal guide · Reviewed 13 September 2026
Solar water heater price
Compare 100 to 500 LPD capacity, ETC and FPC systems, plumbing and backup.
Solar industry guide · Reviewed 13 September 2026
Solar panel recycling in India
Handle damaged modules, reuse, e-waste rules and recycling costs safely.
Home energy guide · Reviewed 13 September 2026
Solar EV charging at home
Match daily driving, charger power, roof size, connection and battery needs.
Solar by topic
Technology and equipment
How panels, inverters, batteries and other parts work across small and large solar systems.
12 min read
Solar panels for India
Compare solar panels in India by type, wattage, efficiency, ALMM and DCR status, heat performance, warranty and roof fit before you buy.
Read guide12 min readSolar battery for home
Check solar battery price in India for home backup. Compare lead-acid and lithium options by usable capacity, load, inverter fit, warranty and safety.
Read guide11 min readSolar inverter for home
Choose a solar inverter for home use. Compare on-grid and hybrid types, kW and kVA size, MPPT limits, backup, phase, warranty and safety.
Read guideSolar by topic
Costs and finance
Project prices, generation value, payback, loans and calculators for sound financial decisions.
13 min read
Home solar system cost in India
Check home solar system cost in India for 1 kW to 10 kW. Compare per-kW planning prices, subsidy, battery cost, roof area and full vendor quotes.
Read guide13 min readSolar payback period in India
Calculate the payback period of solar panels in India using system cost, subsidy, annual units, self use, export value, tariff, maintenance and loan interest.
Read guide12 min readRooftop solar loan in India
Compare a rooftop solar loan in India by eligibility, EMI, interest, fees, collateral, subsidy timing, prepayment and total repayment before you borrow.
Read guide8 min readAccelerated depreciation on solar in India
Check how accelerated depreciation on solar works in India. See the 40% WDV rate, the 180-day rule, who can claim it and how the Income-tax Act 2025 affects it.
Read guide Interactive toolSolar cost and savings calculator
Estimate a residential system from your bill, state, roof area and backup preference.
Use calculator Interactive toolSolar loan EMI calculator
EMI, total interest and a year-by-year repayment schedule for any amount, rate and tenure.
Use calculator Interactive toolSolar payback calculator
Year-by-year payback with panel degradation and optional tariff escalation.
Use calculator Interactive toolAccelerated depreciation calculator
Year-by-year 40% WDV schedule and estimated tax saved, with subsidy adjustment.
Use calculatorSolar by topic
Projects and performance
Planning, installation, operations, maintenance and output from rooftops to solar farms.
13 min read
Rooftop solar installation process
Follow rooftop solar installation in India from roof survey and design to vendor work, safety tests, DISCOM inspection, commissioning and handover.
Read guide11 min readSolar panel maintenance and warranties
Learn solar panel maintenance in India. Check cleaning needs, likely service costs, safety checks, monitoring, storm care and warranty records.
Read guideSolar by topic
Policy and schemes
Government schemes, subsidies, metering, electricity rules and official notices.
15 min read
PM Surya Ghar subsidy
Check PM Surya Ghar subsidy amount, eligibility, 300-unit claim, vendor rules, loan basics and application status for Indian households.
Read guide13 min readNet metering in India
Learn how net metering in India works. See a bill example and check state rules, application steps, meter cost, export credits and settlement.
Read guide Interactive toolPM Surya Ghar subsidy calculator
Exact central assistance amount by system size and state.
Use calculatorSolar by topic
States and industry
State rules, solar manufacturing, market change, tenders and major projects across India.