Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, India’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, will provide solar power to one crore homes by 2027.
Key points of Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana
- Target: Provide free electricity to one crore homes by March 2027.
- Installation estimate: 10 lakh by March 2025, 20 lakh by October 2025, 40 lakh by March 2026 and one crore installations by March 2027.
- Scheme launched: The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2024.
- Subsidy: Up to 40 percent subsidy is provided under the scheme, making solar power affordable and accessible.
- Installation progress: 3 lakh installations have been completed in 9 months, and the monthly installation rate has reached 70,000.
- Savings to the Government: The scheme is estimated to result in annual electricity cost savings of ₹75,000 crore to the government.
- Promotion of Clean Energy: This initiative takes India one step further towards clean energy.
Key Benefits
- Free Electricity to Households: Under this scheme, households are provided free electricity through installation of subsidized rooftop solar panels, thereby significantly reducing their energy expenditure.
- Reduction in Government Electricity Expenditure: Promoting widespread use of solar energy is estimated to result in annual electricity cost savings of an estimated ₹75,000 crore to the government.
- Increased Use of Renewable Energy: The scheme promotes adoption of renewable energy sources, thereby promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy mix in India.
- Reduction in Carbon Emissions: Shifting to solar energy under this scheme will reduce carbon emissions, thereby helping in reducing India’s carbon footprint.
Impact
- Savings and income: Households will save on electricity bills, and also earn income by selling excess power.
- Solar capacity expansion: The scheme will expand 30 GW of solar power capacity, helping India’s renewable energy target.
- Environmental benefits: 1000 BU of electricity and 720 million tons of CO2 emissions will be saved over 25 years.
- Employment generation: The scheme will generate about 17 lakh new jobs.
Solar panels and environmental benefits
- Reduction in carbon emissions: Solar panels generate electricity without releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
- Renewable energy: Solar panels generate electricity using the energy of the sun, which is a renewable energy source.
- Low carbon footprint: Solar energy has a very low carbon footprint and is more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
- No greenhouse gas emissions: Solar panels do not emit greenhouse gases. • Minimal environmental impact: Solar energy has a much lower impact on the environment than fossil fuels.
- Reduced dependence on fossil fuels: Solar energy helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
- Reduced water consumption: Solar panels do not require water to work, while other energy sources do.
- Reduced water pollution: Solar energy does not cause water pollution like conventional power plants.
- Reduced electricity bills: Solar energy can reduce your monthly electricity bills to a great extent.