Over the past 10 days, this big series on solar energy, solar panels and solar electricity has given readers a wealth of information. The ninth part explained that under the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the central government offers the highest solar subsidy on a 3 kilowatt solar panel system. A system of this size is enough to meet the electricity needs of a middle-class family. In keeping with this, reader P Singh Negi, who has been following the series from the start, sent in a question — and this final story has been built around it.
In this last and tenth part of the series, let us answer Negi ji's question: ‘How can I get a 3 kilowatt system installed in my home? Please give complete details.’ The answer comes through CEEW expert Bhavna Tyagi.
Bhavna Tyagi says solar energy is the energy of the future and a clean source of electricity. Central and state governments too are promoting it and making people self-reliant in power generation. A solar panel system can be installed on the rooftop, where it generates electricity from sunlight to meet the home's needs. For a middle-class family, a 3 kilowatt solar panel system is sufficient.
How big a roof is needed for a 3 kW system?
Bhavna Tyagi explains that installing a 1 kilowatt solar panel system at home requires at least 10 square metres of space. By this measure, a 3 kilowatt solar system will need roughly 30 square metres. To put it in perspective, a 100 square yard house has a total area of 83 square metres in metric terms, but the space left for fitting solar panels is less — because a large part of the roof is taken up by the water tank, the staircase and shaded areas.
As a result, out of those 83 square metres, the roof area that is usually fit for use comes to only 55-58 square metres. If someone has rooms or other structures built on the roof, this area shrinks further. So the solar panel system, of whatever kilowatt capacity, can only be installed according to the space that remains.
How much electricity does a 3 kW system generate?
Bhavna says that when the summer sun shines strongly, the solar panel system generates electricity at full capacity. During this period, a 3 kilowatt solar system can produce around 12 units of electricity per day. In effect, this many units can fully cover a household's consumption.
How many home appliances can this system run?
A 3 kilowatt solar panel system is enough for an average home and a family of 6 people. It can meet the most essential household electricity needs. These include —
- 1 water motor (for a few hours only)
How much does a 3 kW solar system cost?
In India, the cost of installing a 3 kilowatt (3 kW) rooftop solar system varies a little from state to state. It can change depending on the company, the quality of panels, the inverter and the city, but generally, without subsidy, the cost comes to around ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh. On the other hand, if you avail the subsidy, you save 50 to 60 percent of the cost.
This cost also comes in three different forms, each tied to convenience. For example —
- An on-grid system (without battery) costs about ₹1.5 lakh to ₹1.8 lakh.
- A hybrid system (with some battery backup) costs about ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh.
- An off-grid system (battery based) can cost about ₹2.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh or more.
How much subsidy is available on a 3 kW solar system?
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the central government gives a maximum subsidy of ₹78,000 on installing a 3 kW or larger panel. No matter how much higher than 3 kilowatt a panel system you install, the additional subsidy does not increase beyond this point. So you can claim the maximum subsidy benefit at 3 kilowatt.
In addition, some state governments also offer solar subsidies. The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government is giving a maximum solar subsidy of ₹30,000 on 3 kilowatt or more.
In Haryana, ordinary families get an additional solar subsidy of up to ₹10,000 per kilowatt, though the maximum subsidy here is ₹20,000. Poor/Antyodaya families, meanwhile, can get a subsidy of up to ₹25,000 per kW.
The Bihar government too is offering an additional state subsidy of up to ₹45,000 (3 kW) on 3 kilowatt or more. Combined with the central government's subsidy, people are getting a substantial benefit.
So you can install a solar panel system according to your home's needs. But if your family has 6 members and you live in a 3 BHK house, then by installing a 3 kilowatt solar panel you can comfortably meet your electricity needs.
