Ayodhya Consecration Influence:
Hours after the consecration of the Ram idol in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing divine inspiration, publicly announced a scheme to electrify one crore households with solar electricity.
PM Modi’s Announcement:
In a tweet from his personal account, PM Modi stated, “Today, on the auspicious occasion of the consecration in Ayodhya, my resolve has been further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar rooftop system on the roof of their houses.” The initiative, named ‘Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana,’ aims to install rooftop solar on one crore houses, reducing electricity bills and fostering energy self-reliance.
Lack of Timeline Information:
Despite the announcement, no specific timeline for the installation process was provided by PM Modi.
Meeting with Officials and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Official Meeting:
Photographs accompanying the tweet showcased PM Modi in a meeting with officials, including those from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Minister R.K. Singh and Secretary Bhupinder Bhalla were part of the discussions.
Current State of Rooftop Solar Installations
Limited Rooftop Solar Growth:
As of now, there is no centrally compiled estimate of households in India with rooftop solar installations. Analysts estimate that there are currently less than 10 lakh households with such installations.
Installed Capacity Statistics:
As of July 31, 2023, only 2.2 GW of rooftop installations were reported in Indian homes. This is significantly lower than the government’s target of 40 GW from rooftop solar by 2022. Currently, about 87% of the nearly 12 GW rooftop solar installations are “non-residential,” according to JMK Research.
Challenges and Expert Opinion:
Vibhuti Garg, an economist and Director at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), highlights the challenges, stating, “India has consistently added around 2 GW annually in rooftop installations, but most of these are in offices and buildings. The current incentive structures benefit commercial entities more than individual houses.”
Despite the challenges, PM Modi’s vision for ‘Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana’ reflects a commitment to sustainable energy and reducing the burden on the common citizens’ electricity bills. The success of this initiative will depend on effective implementation and addressing existing challenges in the rooftop solar sector.
