What is Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana
The Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana intends to supply power household through solar rooftop installations while also providing extra money for excess electricity output.The Prime Minister also requested that a big national campaign be launched to encourage residential users to choose rooftop solar in significant numbers.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) release dated January 22, 2024, “Immediately after his visit to Ayodhya on the auspicious occasion of consecration of Suryawanshi Bhagwan Shri Ram, Prime Minister chaired a meeting to launch “Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana” with the target of installing rooftop solar on 1 crore houses.
During the meeting, Prime Minister said that the power of the sun can be harnessed by every household with a roof to reduce their electricity bills and to make them truly aatmanirbhar for their electricity needs.”
PM Modi used social media X (previously Twittter) to post.
Who is eligible for the scheme
Through the Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana, 1 crore families will be given access to rooftop solar energy. This scheme is meant to help poor and middle-income households lower their electricity bills.Government’s previous rooftop solar programme
In 2014, the government initiated the Rooftop Solar Programme with the goal of attaining a total installed capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2022. A watt, a unit of power, is determined as the quantity of energy utilized over time, specifically one Joule per second.
Here are some important FAQs about the benefits and usage of the rooftop solar programme, as per the government’s website.
What are the advantages of Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar System?
• Saving on electricity bill by the consumer.
• Utilization of available vacant roof space, no additional land required.
• Low gestation period.
• No additional requirement of transmission and distribution (T&D) lines.
• Reduces T&D losses as power consumption and generation are collocated.
• Improvement in the tail-end grid voltages and reduction of system congestion.
• Long term energy and ecological security by reduction in carbon emission.
• Better management of daytime peak loads by DISCOM/ utility.
• Meeting of the Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs) of obligated entities.
Can I make my monthly electricity bill ‘zero’ by installing RTS?
This is possible in very rare cases because the consumer shall be required to pay some minimum charges like fixed charges, etc. even if the consumed energy is all selfgenerated. However, ‘electricity charges’, a major component of the monthly bill, can be reduced to zero by optimally designing and maintaining the RTS. The monthly electricity bill may come to zero in States which give revenue for surplus power generated.
What is the general procedure for installation of Rooftop Solar system for beneficiary?
The interested beneficiary may install the solar rooftop systems through project developers/system integrators/manufactures etc. after taking necessary approval from DISCOMs within the capacity limit as laid down in the order of respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission/Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission of the respective States/UTs.
