Will PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana Illuminate 30,000 Homes in Coimbatore by 2027?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 30,000 homes in Coimbatore to receive rooftop solar panels by 2027.
- 60% subsidy on solar units up to 2kW.
- Competition among five village panchayats for Rs one crore prize.
- Excess solar power can reduce electricity bills.
- Accessible loans at 6% interest facilitate installations.
Chennai, Oct 1 (NationPress) The Coimbatore region of Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) is preparing to equip 30,000 homes with rooftop solar panels by March 2027 under the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. This initiative marks a significant move towards enhancing the use of clean energy and assisting households in lowering their electricity bills.
Across the state, TNPDCL aims to install rooftop solar systems in 1.8 lakh households by the same deadline. Since the program's inception in February 2024, approximately 36,000 homes in Tamil Nadu have already embraced solar energy, with 6,000 of these located in the Coimbatore area, the highest in the state.
Within the Coimbatore Metro division, which encompasses the city’s central urban locations, 2,500 households have adopted rooftop solar technology.
The initiative is designed to empower residential users to produce their own energy and decrease dependency on the power grid. It offers a 60 percent subsidy on the cost of solar units up to 2kW capacity and 40 percent on additional costs for systems ranging from 2kW to 3kW.
The subsidy is limited to 3kW, resulting in financial assistance of Rs 30,000 for a 1kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2kW, and Rs 78,000 for systems of 3kW or greater. Rooftop solar systems are priced at approximately Rs 70,000 for 1kW, Rs 1.4 lakh for 2kW, and Rs 3 lakh for 3kW.
Numerous banks are providing loans with interest rates around 6 percent, facilitating easier access for households.
Any excess solar power generated can be credited to the consumers’ electricity accounts and adjusted against their bills until the end of the fiscal year.
To encourage participation, TNPDCL has set up 18 special camps in Coimbatore where residents can interact with banks and solar vendors for price estimates and financing options.
Moreover, five village panchayats—Arasur, Solavampalayam, Puravipalayam, Theethipalayam, and Kondayampalayam—are competing in a “Model Solar Village” contest. The panchayat with the highest number of solar connections within six months will receive a cash prize of Rs one crore. Officials have stated that the combined effects of subsidies, accessible financing, and outreach efforts are anticipated to make rooftop solar more attainable, while also contributing to Tamil Nadu’s broader renewable energy objectives and alleviating pressure on the power grid.