Rooftop solar installations are becoming increasingly important to Indian households and the local energy grid, driven primarily by the desire to reduce utility costs, according to a new all-India study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
The CEEW analysis said that about 81% of households wanting to adopt rooftop solar cited lower electricity bills as their primary motivation. For those who have already switched, the technology has achieved a 71% reduction in average monthly energy bills.
The consumer survey report was released on Wednesday at an event organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to mark two years of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGY).
According to the study, the growth of residential rooftop solar in India has accelerated from a CAGR of 45% between 2017 and 2023 to a CAGR of 85% between 2024 and 2026.
CEEW’s consumer survey on residential RTS is the first since the launch of PMSGY. This report is based on a pan-India survey of more than 17,000 households in 22 states covering 308 districts, and examines how households understand, evaluate and cope with RTS adoption.
“India has more than 300 days of sunshine annually, and we are turning this potential into a national clean energy movement. Prime Minister Surya Ghar is enabling families to generate electricity on their rooftops, cut bills, and contribute to Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The more than 41 lakh families availing the benefits of the program are our strongest ambassadors, and their expertise will help build confidence among many more families,” New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said.
About 57% of households surveyed in the CEEW study were aware of the potential of RTS to generate electricity for homes in both rural and urban areas. However, the study suggests that the next challenge for rooftop solar in India is not awareness alone, but conversion: helping interested households move confidently from curiosity to application, financing, vendor selection and installation.
“India’s rooftop solar program has created strong momentum. The next step is to turn awareness into confident action by simplifying the adoption journey through clearer process support, improved financing awareness and evidence-based communication. Adopters’ experience shows that the value proposition is clear; the task now is to make it more accessible to many more households,” said CEEW Fellow Rishabh Jain, CEEW Fellow.
Minister Joshi on Wednesday said that India has become the second largest market for solar energy growth, overtaking the USA.
“India’s solar growth story is setting global benchmarks. In 2025, India surpasses the USA in annual solar capacity additions to become the world’s second-largest solar growth market. As the fastest growing major solar market, India is driving record capacity additions through strong policy support, innovation and world-class infrastructure,” he wrote on X.
