Solar for Home in Delhi NCR: 2026 Guide

Rooftop solar for Delhi NCR homes: the 2026 position in one answer

A Delhi home installing rooftop solar in 2026 can receive up to ₹1.56 lakh in combined government subsidy — ₹78,000 from PM Surya Ghar and ₹78,000 from the Delhi government — and homes using up to 400 units a month can get a 3 kW system at zero upfront cost. Across the rest of the NCR (Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram), the central subsidy of up to ₹78,000 applies, with state top-ups varying. A 3 kW system generates roughly 300 units a month and cuts a typical household's bill to a fraction of its pre-solar level.

TL;DR

• 2026 is the strongest year yet for Delhi residential solar: the September 2026 policy amendment roughly doubled combined subsidy support to ₹1.56 lakh for 3 kW.
• Three routes exist: zero-upfront ULA (≤400 units/month), ULA with a ₹5,000/kW capped contribution (>400 units), and self-financed CAPEX through the national portal with a vendor of your choice.
• This guide is the hub: use the section links below, and our deep-dives on the free rooftop solar route and exact subsidy amounts by system size.

Why 2026 changed the maths for Delhi homeowners

Three things moved at once in late 2026:

1. Delhi doubled its support. The second amendment to the Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023 (17 September 2026) scrapped the five-year ₹3/unit generation-based incentive for new residential installs and replaced it with an upfront capital subsidy of ₹26,000/kW — up to ₹78,000 at 3 kW, on top of the central subsidy.
2. The zero-cost route arrived. Homes averaging up to 400 units/month in FY 2025–26 get up to 3 kW installed with no upfront payment under the Discom Trusteeship (ULA) model.
3. Hardware is cheaper. Module prices have fallen through 2025–26 and GST on solar modules sits at 5% (post-September 2025), making unsubsidised capacity beyond 3 kW more affordable than it was when the policy launched in 2024.

The result: Delhi targets roughly 2.2–2.3 lakh new residential installations by March 2027 and ~500 MW of added rooftop capacity, allocated first-come, first-served.

The subsidy stack for a Delhi home

The central CFA pays ₹30,000/kW up to 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third kW; the Delhi subsidy adds ₹26,000/kW up to 3 kW. Both cap out at 3 kW, so a 5 kW system receives the same ₹1.56 lakh as a 3 kW one. Full slab-by-slab tables, benchmark costs and the eligibility fine print are in our Delhi subsidy amounts guide.

What a home system actually costs

Delhi government tender estimates from the September 2026 announcement: about ₹1.30 lakh for 2 kW and ₹1.75 lakh for 3 kW installed. MNRE's benchmark rates (₹50,000/kW up to 2 kW, ₹45,000/kW above) exist for subsidy calculation only — they are not a price ceiling. Open-market quotes vary with module brand, inverter quality, mounting and wiring scope, so treat every figure as a planning number until a site survey produces a firm quote. Two consumer protections exist: MNRE publishes indicative component costs to prevent overcharging, and vendors must provide five years of free comprehensive maintenance under the scheme.

What solar generates and saves in Delhi

Delhi government planning illustrations, used in the September 2026 amendment, assume roughly 100 units per kW per month of generation for a residential rooftop. What that does to your bill depends on your consumption band:

• Under 200 units/month: your bill is already zero under Delhi's electricity subsidy. Solar adds a 50% incentive on energy savings (₹3/unit, paid annually) plus APPC-rate payment (~₹6.5/unit) for surplus exports — the policy's 2 kW example works out to about ₹550/month in combined benefit.
• 201–400 units/month: the up-to-₹800/month electricity subsidy continues, and solar pushes your net imports toward zero. A 2 kW system saves ~200 units/month — worth about ₹300/month at ₹3/unit in the government's illustration.
• Above 400 units/month: a 3 kW system saves ~200 units and exports ~100 units monthly — an average additional benefit of roughly ₹1,659/month in the 201–400 band illustration and about ₹2,143/month for heavier consumers, who also get paid at APPC for surplus.

Beware the interaction with Delhi's electricity subsidy: eligibility is assessed on gross consumption (grid imports plus solar generation), not the net units you're billed for. A 450-unit gross consumer with solar keeps paying for its net 150 units — without the electricity subsidy. The free rooftop solar guide works through this in detail.

Your four routes to going solar

1. Zero-upfront ULA route (≤400 units/month). The Discom arranges installation through empanelled vendors under the Trusteeship model; central subsidy + Delhi subsidy + government top-up cover the full cost. You get free maintenance for five years, then chargeable O&M via the Discom.
2. Capped-contribution ULA route (>400 units/month). Same model; you contribute the balance, capped at ₹5,000/kW (about ₹15,000 for 3 kW).
3. Self-financed CAPEX via the national portal. You choose a PM Surya Ghar-empanelled vendor yourself, agree a price, and claim the central CFA (₹78,000 max) — plus the Delhi state subsidy by DBT. Collateral-free financing at repo + 50 bps (5.75% p.a., 10-year tenure) is available for systems up to 3 kW through the Jan Samarth portal.
4. RESCO / society route for flats. If you live in a group housing society, individual homes benefit through virtual net metering (₹26,000/kW residential subsidy applies under the VNM framework) and the society can install for common areas at ₹11,000/kW. See our Delhi-NCR housing society guide.

The discom process, step by step

All three Delhi Discoms — BRPL (BSES Rajdhani), BYPL (BSES Yamuna) and TPDDL (Tata Power Delhi) — follow the same national-portal flow; only the portals and helplines differ:

1. Register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in or solar.delhi.gov.in with your consumer (CA) number and mobile. BSES customers can also register via helpline 19123 (option 3).
2. Select a vendor from the empanelled list; the vendor files your net-metering application with the Discom (BSES customers: the BSES RTS portal).
3. Installation by the vendor, with safety checks and consumer walkthrough.
4. Discom inspection: physical verification, net-meter agreement signing, and net/generation meter installation.
5. Subsidy release: central CFA within 15 days of approval via the e-token; Delhi state subsidy by DBT.

For the metering economics — what happens to surplus units, banking and settlement — see our net metering vs gross metering explainer and the net metering application process guide.

Sizing your system

The 3 kW subsidy cap makes sizing straightforward for most independent houses: match the system to consumption, not to your roof's maximum. A rough planning frame for Delhi NCR, using the government's ~100 units/kW/month assumption: 1 kW suits homes under ~150 units/month, 2 kW suits 150–300 units, and 3 kW suits 300–450 units. Roof area needs roughly 200 sq ft for 2 kW and 300 sq ft for 3 kW of shadow-free space, per BRPL's eligibility guidance. If your consumption is well above 450 units/month, the capacity beyond 3 kW is self-funded — and worth modelling against efficiency upgrades first. Existing solar households expanding later get subsidy only on the incremental capacity within 3 kW.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 2026 a good time to install solar at home in Delhi?

Arguably the best yet. Combined subsidies reached ₹1.56 lakh for 3 kW after the September 2026 amendment, the zero-upfront route covers homes using up to 400 units/month, and the scheme operates first-come, first-served against a March 2027 installation target — capacity and timelines favour early applicants.

How much roof area do I need for a 3 kW system?

About 300 sq ft of shadow-free roof area (roughly 200 sq ft for 2 kW), per BRPL's scheme communication. Elevated structures and balconies can also host eligible installations under the PM Surya Ghar guidelines, and group net or virtual net metering can substitute when roof space falls short.

Will my electricity bill really become zero?

It depends on your consumption band. Homes under 200 units/month already have a zero bill and gain extra solar incentives instead. Homes in the 201–400 band can typically zero out their net imports with a right-sized system. Above 400 units gross consumption, you pay for net units at the slab rates — and lose the electricity subsidy if gross consumption crosses 400 units.

What happens to the extra power my system generates?

Surplus units export to the grid through net metering and carry forward month to month as credits; anything left at financial year-end is paid out at the APPC rate — about ₹6.5/unit in the Delhi policy's illustrations.

Can I install solar if I live in a rented flat or a society?

Ownership of the premises and the electricity connection matters for the subsidy. Flat owners in societies typically go through the society's virtual net metering or RESCO arrangements (see our housing society guide); tenants would need the owner's participation and the society's assent.

Do I have to use DCR (made-in-India) panels?

Yes, if you want the central subsidy — PM Surya Ghar CFA requires domestically manufactured modules made from domestically manufactured cells. Only consumers who explicitly forgo the subsidy through the "Give It Up" option may use non-DCR modules.

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Sun Wave Technologies is a Delhi-NCR solar company that publishes independent guides on rooftop solar economics, subsidy policy and net metering for homes and businesses across the region. If you're evaluating rooftop solar for your home or facility and want experienced help with system design, subsidy paperwork and vendor-grade installation quality, contact Sun Wave.