Delhi Empowers Cooperative Societies to Lead Rooftop Solar Revolution Under PM Surya Ghar Scheme – EQ
In Short : The Delhi government has partnered with cooperative housing and dairy societies to boost rooftop solar adoption under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. Societies with ample rooftop space will be selected for subsidized installations. With combined central and state subsidies up to ₹1.08 lakh, and zero upfront cost models, the initiative aims to make solar power more accessible citywide.
In Detail : The Delhi government has launched a new initiative to accelerate the adoption of rooftop solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana by involving cooperative housing and dairy societies. The plan is to leverage these societies for large-scale installations and raise awareness about the benefits of solar energy among residents.
In a recent meeting, officials decided to select at least one housing cooperative and one dairy cooperative society in the pilot phase. Societies with sufficient rooftop space will be shortlisted for the installations. Managing committees are being encouraged to come forward and express interest in the scheme.
The initiative comes with strong financial support. The central government is offering subsidies of ₹30,000 per kilowatt for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third kW, with a cap of ₹78,000. In addition, the Delhi government is providing a top-up subsidy of ₹10,000 per kilowatt up to 3 kW, making the total subsidy reach as high as ₹1.08 lakh per household.
To make adoption easier, the government is also promoting financial models like the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) and Utility-Led Aggregation. Under these models, households don’t have to invest any money upfront. Developers install and maintain the solar systems, and consumers benefit from reduced electricity bills.
Delhi’s distribution companies (discoms) such as BRPL and BYPL have already enabled over 10,000 rooftop connections, generating approximately 220 MWp of solar power. These installations have resulted in annual savings of around ₹160 crore, including ₹35 crore saved by residential users alone.
This community-driven strategy aims to maximize rooftop usage, simplify solar adoption, and support India’s broader renewable energy goals. By integrating cooperative societies into the plan, the government hopes to streamline implementation and scale the benefits of solar power across urban Delhi.
