Gujarat Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Gujarat Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana, popularly known as Surya Gujarat or SURYA-Gujarat, is a flagship solar rooftop subsidy scheme of the Government of Gujarat. The Energy and Petrochemicals Department launched the scheme on 5 August 2019 to promote grid-connected solar rooftop systems among residential electricity consumers. Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) works as the nodal agency, while the state power distribution companies (DISCOMs) handle net metering, technical checks, and grid connection. The scheme lets households set up a solar plant on their roof or on the ground within the premises of their electricity service connection, and the consumer keeps full ownership of the system.

The state government launched Surya Gujarat with a clear objective: to give residential consumers relief from rising electricity bills and to tap the huge solar potential of homes across Gujarat. Through this scheme, the government also aims to help households earn extra income by selling surplus solar power to the grid, support the state's renewable energy targets, help meet the daytime electricity demand of farmers, and reduce the effects of climate change. The scheme is also linked with India's commitment to cut the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030 and to reach about 50 percent of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.

Under the SURYA-Gujarat, the state provides a 40% subsidy for solar rooftop systems up to 3 kW. For systems above 3 kW and up to 10 kW, consumers get a 40% subsidy on the first 3 kW and a 20% subsidy on the capacity above 3 kW up to 10 kW. The government offers no subsidy for capacity beyond 10 kW. A consumer can claim either the state subsidy or the MNRE Central Financial Assistance (CFA), but not both. Group Housing Societies (GHS) and Residential Welfare Associations (RWA) can also get a 20% subsidy for rooftop solar plants that power common facilities such as lifts, water works, street lights, gyms, swimming pools and gardens.

The scheme works on a simple model. The consumer can apply online through any empanelled installer of their choice or the AHA Solar App, or offline at the nearest DISCOM office. The consumer then applies for a net meter with the DISCOM and pays the system cost after subsidy deduction, along with the application and metering charges. After installation, the DISCOM tests the plant; the consumer, installer, and DISCOM sign a Joint Inspection Report, and the system gets connected to the grid through net metering. 

The concerned DISCOM buys the surplus electricity fed to the grid at Rs. 2.25 per unit for the first 5 years, and after that at 75% of the average tariff discovered by GUVNL in its competitive bidding, as per the Gujarat Solar Power Policy-2021. Only solar cells and modules manufactured in India can be used in these systems.

Similar to Gujarat’s Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana, the Central Government is also promoting solar energy through PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to install rooftop solar systems for one crore households to provide free electricity, and PM-KUSUM, which focuses on solarising agricultural pumps and setting up decentralised solar plants for farmers. You can check the complete details of both schemes here.

Scheme Benefits

The Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana offers the following benefits to both eligible Residential Consumers and Group Housing Societies and RWAs:

Subsidy for Residential Consumers

• Up to 3 kW: 40% subsidy.
• Above 3 kW up to 10 kW: 40% on the first 3 kW + 20% on the remaining capacity up to 10 kW.
• Above 10 kW: No subsidy on the extra capacity.
• Example: For a 5 kW system, the consumer gets a 40% subsidy on 3 kW and a 20% subsidy on the remaining 2 kW.

Subsidy for Group Housing Societies and RWAs

• 20% subsidy for solar plants that supply power to common facilities.
• Eligible capacity is limited to 10 kW per house and a total of 500 kW per GHS/RWA, including systems already installed on individual houses.
• Common facilities include water works, lifts, street lights, gym, swimming pool, garden, and similar shared assets.

Other Benefits

• Lower electricity bills: Net metering adjusts solar generation against consumption in every billing cycle.
• Extra income: DISCOMs buy surplus power at Rs. 2.25 per unit for the first 5 years from commissioning.
• Long-term earnings: After 5 years, surplus power gets paid at 75% of GUVNL's average discovered solar tariff for the rest of the project term.
• Full ownership: The solar system belongs to the consumer.
• Freedom of choice: Consumers can pick any approved installer.
• Free maintenance: The empanelled installer maintains the system for 5 years after commissioning.
• Simple payment: The consumer pays only the balance cost after the subsidy deduction to the installer.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the subsidy under the Surya Gujarat Scheme, applicants must fulfil the following eligibility criteria.

• Residential (household) electricity consumers of a Gujarat DISCOM.
• Group Housing Societies and Residential Welfare Associations for common facility connections.
• The solar system must be installed within the premises of the consumer's electricity service connection, on the roof or on the ground.
• The consumer must own the solar rooftop system.
• The system must use solar cells and modules made in India.
• Systems registered under the Solar Power Policy-2015 before the scheme can also qualify if they meet all the conditions.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for applying under the Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana:

• Latest electricity bill
• Aadhaar card or other identity proof
• Passport-size photograph
• Property ownership document
• Installation and commissioning documents collected from the empanelled installer.
• Bank account details
• Documents as per the checklist provided by the concerned DISCOM.
• Joint Inspection Report (JIR), signed by the consumer, installer, and DISCOM during commissioning.

Steps to Apply

Consumers can apply for Surya Gujarat online or offline through an empanelled installer, their nearest DISCOM office, or the AHA Solar App. You can choose any of these methods according to your convenience and complete the application by following the steps below.

Online Application through the Surya Gujarat Portal 

• Visit the Surya Gujarat portal and pick an installer from the list of empanelled vendors for your DISCOM.
• The installer inspects your roof or premises to confirm the system size.
• The installer helps you submit the solar rooftop application on the portal with your electricity connection details.
• Apply for a net meter with your DISCOM, which checks technical feasibility and scrutinises your documents.
• Pay the system cost after subsidy deduction to the installer, along with the application and metering charges.
• The installer sets up the plant as per DISCOM specifications and tests it.
• Take all necessary installation documents from the installer.
• The DISCOM tests the plant for grid compliance, and the consumer, installer, and DISCOM sign the JIR during commissioning.
• After the required inspection and approval, the DISCOM completes the necessary net-metering and grid-connection formalities.

Note: Consumers can also apply directly, without visiting any office, through the AHA Solar App.

Offline Application at the Nearest DISCOM Office

Consumers who prefer to apply in person can visit the nearest office of their DISCOM by following the steps below.

• Go to the nearest office of the power company that supplies electricity to your premises.
• Keep your consumer number and connection details ready.
• The DISCOM provides the checklist of documents required for the solar rooftop application.
• Submit your solar rooftop and net meter application with the required documents as guided by the office.
• The DISCOM checks technical feasibility and scrutinises your documents.
• After approval, an empanelled installer sets up the plant, and the DISCOM tests it, signs the Joint Inspection Report, and connects it to the grid.

Relevant Links

• Energy and Petrochemicals Department, Gujarat
• GUVNL e-Vidhyut Seva (SURYA-Gujarat)
• Surya Gujarat Unified Single Window Portal
• Gujarat Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana Notification
• Gujarat Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana Details

Contact Information

• Energy and Petrochemicals Department, Gujarat Department Contact Details
• Energy and Petrochemicals Department, Gujarat Department Helpline Number