Delhi’s government has set a target of installing 2.3 lakh rooftop solar systems over the next six months, with an estimated investment of up to Rs 2,700 crore, as it moves to accelerate household and consumer adoption of solar power across the capital.
Power Minister Ashish Sood announced the target during a meeting with solar vendors and other stakeholders on Wednesday, describing the initiative as part of the government’s plan to make Delhi the “Solar Capital” of India. He called for faster implementation and wider participation from vendors involved in rooftop solar projects.
Achieving 2.3 lakh installations within six months would require an average rollout of nearly 38,000 systems every month. The government has not provided, in the supplied announcement, a detailed location-wise installation schedule or a breakdown of the proposed investment between subsidies, equipment, installation and other implementation costs.
A key change in the proposed implementation mechanism is the government’s decision to take responsibility for payments to vendors. Sood said upfront payment requirements had been a barrier for consumers and that the government would pay the full amount to participating vendors.
“Consumers also hesitate to pay upfront… So, the government has removed the barrier between you and the consumer. We will pay the full amount. The government is taking responsibility,” the minister said, according to the report.
The payment arrangement is intended to address one of the practical hurdles in rooftop solar adoption: the ability and willingness of consumers to pay vendors before a system is installed and commissioned. The announcement did not specify the eligibility criteria for consumers, the payment schedule for vendors, the size of systems covered or the process for resolving installation-related disputes.
The Power Department has also launched a dedicated registration portal for the programme. Sood urged solar vendors to register and participate, while inviting them to suggest changes that could make implementation faster and more seamless.
The meeting brought together solar vendors and other stakeholders to discuss the rollout. The government said faster execution and greater vendor participation would be important to meeting the six-month target, but the report did not identify the number of vendors currently registered or the existing rooftop solar installation base in Delhi.
The minister also linked the programme to employment generation and economic activity, saying increased solar deployment could create jobs and contribute to economic growth in the capital. The government framed the proposed expansion as part of a broader push towards cleaner energy and greater solar adoption among households and other consumers.
The next operational step is vendor registration through the Power Department’s dedicated portal, followed by implementation of the payment mechanism and installation programme. The government is also seeking feedback from industry stakeholders on how the rollout can be carried out at the proposed scale and speed.
