PM Surya Ghar Central Subsidy Brackets (2026)
₹30,000
1 kW System
Ideal for lights, ceiling fans, Wi-Fi, and small TV setups. Generates ~120 units/month.
₹60,000
2 kW System
Covers refrigerator, washing machine, and daytime 1-ton AC. Generates ~240 units/month.
₹78,000
3 kW to 10 kW+ Systems
Powers 2+ inverter ACs, water pumps, EV charging, and achieves ₹0 electricity bills. Generates 360–1,200+ units/month.
Subsidy amounts per MNRE guidelines. Kerala has no separate state-level solar subsidy in 2026 — central CFA only. Verify current figures on the official portal before signing any agreement.
Am I Eligible?
- Indian citizen and owner of the roof
- Valid KSEB electricity connection
- Have not received solar subsidy before (≤3 kW)
- ALMM-compliant Made-in-India solar modules
- MNRE-empanelled vendor for installation
- Residential consumer only (not commercial)
DCR vs. Non-DCR Solar Panels: Mandatory Subsidy Rules
A crucial technical requirement that every prospective solar homeowner in Kerala must understand is the difference between DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) and Non-DCR solar PV panels.
Under strict guidelines mandated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana subsidies are ONLY granted if your rooftop system uses 100% DCR-compliant solar panels listed under MNRE ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) List-I.
DCR Solar Panels
Both Solar Cells & Solar Modules Made in India
- Full Subsidy Eligibility: 100% eligible for the central DBT subsidy of up to ₹78,000.
- Strict Verification: Every module features an embedded RFID tag and QR code verified by KSEB engineers against the national portal during commissioning.
- ALMM List-I Certified: Sourced from certified Tier-1 Indian cell manufacturers (e.g. Luminous and Microtek N-Type TOPCon DCR modules).
- Best For: Residential homeowners applying through the PM Surya Ghar National Portal.
Non-DCR Solar Panels
Imported Cells (Assembled in India or Abroad)
- Zero Subsidy: Ineligible for central PM Surya Ghar financial assistance (₹0 subsidy).
- Lower Initial Capex: Typically 10%–20% cheaper upfront per watt due to global mass production of silicon cells.
- Best For: Commercial and Industrial (C&I) rooftop installations, hospitals, petrol pumps, and off-grid battery PCU systems not claiming residential subsidies.
- High Technology Availability: Available in cutting-edge TOPCon bifacial configurations from leading brands.
Comparison: DCR vs. Non-DCR Solar Panels
How to Apply — Step by Step
Register
Create account at pmsuryaghar.gov.in with KSEB consumer number
Choose Vendor
Select Sonetec Powers from the empanelled vendor list
Site Survey
We visit your property, design the system and confirm feeder feasibility
Install & Meter
Solar array setup & KSEB bi-directional net meter testing
Subsidy (DBT)
Credited directly to loan A/C or savings bank within 30 days
Financing Example & Solar Bank Loans
Collateral-free rooftop solar loans at concessional interest rates (~5.75%–7% p.a.) for tenures up to 10 years are readily available from State Bank of India (SBI), Canara Bank, other nationalised banks, scheduled commercial banks, and NBFCs. You can check eligibility and apply directly via the JanSamarth Portal (jansamarth.in) and the PM Surya Ghar National Portal (pmsuryaghar.gov.in).
*Indicative example based on a ₹2,00,000 loan at ~5.75% p.a. over 10 years with subsidy adjustment. Actual loan terms depend on lending bank assessment, credit profile, and chosen system capacity. Sonetec assists with all documentation.
Bank Financing & Interest Rate Matrix (2026)
ROI — Get the Most from Your Subsidised System
PM Surya Ghar brings down your upfront cost — but long-term savings depend on how you use electricity after installation. Your panels produce the most power between 9 AM and 6 PM. Every unit you consume during that window is effectively free; every unit after sunset is billed at KSEB tariff.
Induction / Infrared Cooking by Day
Use induction or infrared stoves for cooking until 6 PM. Lunch and early dinner powered by your own solar beats LPG and peak-grid costs.
Skip Heavy Loads at Peak Hours
Avoid running washing machines, water heaters, irons and AC during evening peak hours. Schedule them before 6 PM or late at night.
EV Scooters & Electric Cars
Charge electric two-wheelers and cars from your rooftop during the day — zero petrol cost and no peak-tariff grid charging.
🚗 Planning to buy an EV car?
Let us know when you apply or during your site survey. We will factor EV charging load into your system design so your investment stays profitable from day one. Contact Sonetec or mention it in your enquiry.
Crucial Components of a Solar Project: Why Quality Engineering Matters
When planning a rooftop solar installation, most homeowners only ask about panel brand names and wattages. But in real-world electrical engineering, panels are only one piece of the puzzle. An under-engineered mounting structure or substandard earthing will cause catastrophic equipment failure, roof damage, or safety hazards during Kerala's severe monsoon weather.
Many low-cost contractors cut corners on inverters, metal gauges, and electrical safety to quote a cheaper upfront price. While you might save a few thousand rupees initially, in the long run, you lose significantly more than what you saved when equipment fails prematurely.
Inverter Quality Outweighs Panel Hype
In an on-grid system, people chase panel brands and completely ignore the inverter. The inverter is the most crucial product. If the inverter isn't top-tier, even the best Tier-1 panels will underperform or frequently trip offline.
- MPPT Efficiency: Premium inverters (Luminous NXi, Microtek Greenburg, Hykon) feature high-speed dual MPPT tracking that extracts maximum power during changing cloud cover.
- Thermal Resilience: High ambient heat in Kerala triggers thermal throttling in cheap inverters, slashing generation by 20%–40% precisely at midday peak hours.
- Grid Synchronization: High-grade processors smoothly synchronize with KSEB voltage swings (180V–260V) without dropping export connection.
Monsoon-Resistant Mounting Structures
Solar panels act like airplane wings under heavy coastal gale winds (up to 150 km/h). The mounting structure must be engineered with uncompromised structural strength:
- Walkway Requirement (>1.5m Height): If panels are elevated higher than 1.5 meters above roof level, a safe walkway must be installed for regular maintenance, cleaning, and inspection.
- Chemical Anchoring & Concrete Pedestals: Structure legs must be permanently fastened with chemical bonding (epoxy anchor bolts) and reinforced with concrete footing blocks to prevent roof waterproofing punctures and wind uplift.
- Beware Cheap Thin-Gauge Tubes: In metal thickness, a lower gauge number means thicker, stronger walls. Never accept flimsy, high-gauge, undersized hollow tubes that rust or twist under monsoon squalls.
- Sheeted Roofs: Tin/trapezoidal sheet roofs require heavy-duty aluminium mini-rails with certified thickness and weatherproof EPDM gasket seals.
Dual-Isolated Earthing (DC & AC)
Proper earthing prevents dangerous touch potentials, equipment burnouts, and house electrical shocks. Never allow a single common earthing line for the whole system:
- DC Earth: Dedicated earthing pit connecting all solar panel frames and metallic mounting structures.
- AC Earth: Completely separate earthing pit dedicated to the inverter chassis, ACDB, and grid neutral isolation.
- Strict Conductor Standard: Both DC and AC earthing must use at least 10 SWG pure copper wire. Do NOT allow 12 SWG or thinner (higher numbers mean thinner wire), which burns out under severe fault surges.
Lightning Arrestor & 50mm² Down Conductor
Kerala has one of the highest lightning strike densities in India. Standard surge plugs cannot stop a direct lightning strike:
- Copper-Bonded Lightning Arrestor: Elevated above the highest point of the solar array with a 45° protection cone and its own dedicated earth pit.
- 50mm² Down Conductor Rule: The down conductor must be at least 50mm² Aluminium conductor. The physical thickness and surface area of 50mm² is vital to dissipate massive lightning kinetic energy without melting.
- Beware Thin Copper Traps: If a company claims "we use copper instead of aluminium", demand the gauge! If it is 6 SWG or thinner (higher number), reject it immediately! Thin copper wire will vaporize during a high-kiloampere strike.
- Chemical Earthing Compounds: All earth pits must use conductive BFC / carbon-bentonite compounds to maintain earth resistance strictly below 5 Ohms (ideally <2 Ohms) across all seasons.
The Low-Bid Trap: Saving ₹10,000 Upfront Costs You ₹1,00,000+ Later
Many installers intentionally shave costs on structure thickness, omit walkways, combine AC/DC earthing into a single rod, use razor-thin down conductors, or skip earthing compounds. When a lightning storm fries your inverter, roof terrace waterproofing leaks from poor anchoring, or monsoon winds bend the structure, the warranty is void and repair costs far exceed the initial "savings". Sonetec Powers strictly enforces 100% compliant MNRE and IEEE engineering standards on every project.
KSEB Net Metering — What Sonetec Handles
After your solar panels are installed, KSEB must approve a bi-directional net meter that records both the power you consume from the grid and the surplus you export. This is essential for on-grid systems — without net metering, you cannot offset your bill with solar generation.
Sonetec coordinates the entire KSEB process on your behalf:
- Application for solar connectivity and load extension (if needed)
- Submission of system technical details, MNRE compliance certificates and installation photos
- Scheduling KSEB inspection after installation
- Net meter installation and commissioning
- Final sign-off on the PM Surya Ghar portal to trigger subsidy disbursement
Timelines vary by KSEB section office workload — typically 2–4 weeks after installation. We keep you informed via phone or WhatsApp throughout.
