India witnessed a significant expansion in rooftop solar capacity in 2024, with installations reaching 3.2 GW, marking an 86 per cent increase compared to the previous year, according to Mercom India Research’s Q4 & Annual 2024 India Rooftop Solar Market Report. The surge in capacity was largely driven by the widespread implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The residential sector played a dominant role, accounting for 74 per cent of the total rooftop solar installations in 2024. Meanwhile, the industrial segment contributed 19 per cent, followed by the commercial sector at 6 per cent, and the government sector at 0.8 per cent. The majority of these installations were executed under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model, which represented 88 per cent of the total capacity added, while the remaining installations were carried out under the operational expenditure (OPEX) or renewable energy service company (RESCO) model. Among states, Gujarat led the rooftop solar capacity additions with a 36 per cent share, followed by Maharashtra at 20 per cent and Kerala at 9 per cent. As a result of these expansions, India’s cumulative rooftop solar capacity reached 13.7 GW by the end of December 2024. Additionally, 2.8 GW of rooftop solar tenders were announced during the year, reflecting a year-over-year increase. A significant portion of these tenders—over 43 per cent—focused on installing rooftop solar systems on government buildings across the country, further strengthening India’s commitment to solar energy adoption. The rapid growth in the sector highlights the increasing demand for rooftop solar solutions, particularly among homeowners, while future progress will depend on maintaining stable module costs and ensuring a seamless supply chain to support both residential and commercial installations. News source: Mercom India