No jargon. No confusing charts. Just plain explanations of how solar works, what the government offers, and why it's one of the smartest decisions a Mumbai home or business can make today.
Think of your solar system like a mini power plant on your roof — one that runs on sunlight and never charges you a fuel bill. Here's the whole journey from sun to socket.
Solar panels (made of silicon cells) absorb sunlight. Mumbai gets an average of 5–6 sunny hours a day — one of the best in India.
The panels produce "direct current" (DC) electricity — the same kind your phone runs on. This flows down cables to your inverter.
The inverter (a box usually on your wall) converts DC into "alternating current" (AC) — the electricity your home appliances use.
This AC power flows to your main switchboard and powers everything — fans, ACs, TVs, everything — exactly like grid electricity.
With a grid-tied system (most common), you automatically switch to MSEDCL/Adani grid power at night — seamlessly, no interruption. Any surplus solar you sent to the grid during the day earns you credits on your bill (net metering). With a battery system, you store daytime power and use it at night too.
Just like a terrace water tank collects rainwater so you don't need to rely 100% on the municipal supply — your solar panels collect sunlight so you don't need to rely 100% on the electricity board.
When your solar generates more than you use, it's like getting a recharge on your phone plan. That credit is used later when the grid draws power at night — so you never lose what you generate.
You pay once upfront. Then for 25 years the system earns you savings every single month — like an FD that pays monthly returns. Most systems pay back their full cost in 4–6 years, then it's free energy.
Instead of buying electricity from the grid at ₹9–11/unit every month forever, you buy a system that makes your own electricity at effectively ₹0/unit for the next 25 years.
All three use the same solar panels — what differs is what happens to the electricity and how your home handles power outages.
Most popular · No battery
Best for: Apartments, homes & offices with stable grid supply
Grid + Battery backup
Best for: Areas with frequent load shedding or outage-sensitive homes
Fully independent
Best for: Farmhouses, remote locations, areas with no grid connection
Start with a Grid-Tied system — it's the most cost-effective, fully subsidy-eligible, and covers 80–100% of your bill. If you want backup power, add a small battery to a Hybrid system. Very few Mumbai customers need Off-Grid.
The Indian government is actively pushing solar adoption. As a result, residential customers can get up to ₹88,000 off their installation cost — before any savings even begin.
India's biggest residential solar scheme. Launched in 2024, offering direct cash subsidies to homeowners installing rooftop solar up to 3 kW.
Maharashtra government offers an additional flat subsidy on top of the central scheme for residential rooftop solar installations.
| System Size | Central Subsidy (PM Surya Ghar) | Maharashtra State | Total Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 kW | ₹30,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹40,000 |
| 1 kW – 2 kW | ₹30,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹40,000 |
| 2 kW – 3 kW | ₹60,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹70,000 |
| 3 kW and above | ₹78,000 (capped) | ₹10,000 | ₹88,000 |
| Commercial / Industrial | Not eligible | Not eligible | — |
We register your system on the pmsuryaghar.gov.in portal using your consumer number and Aadhaar. Takes 15 minutes.
Your electricity provider approves the connection. We file this on your behalf within 7 days of installation.
Shashwat Solar Energy is empanelled. Your system must be from an approved vendor list — ours is.
A bidirectional meter is installed by the utility. We coordinate and follow up with MSEDCL / Adani on your behalf.
After commissioning report is submitted and approved, the subsidy amount is transferred via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) — typically within 30 days.
Net metering is the policy that lets you "sell" surplus solar electricity back to the grid — and offset it against what you draw at night. It's the reason grid-tied solar is so financially powerful.
Your panels generate electricity. Your home uses it first. Any surplus (e.g. when you're at work and ACs are off) is exported to the grid. The meter runs backwards — logging a credit.
You draw from the MSEDCL / Adani grid as normal. But your bill only charges you for the net units — grid consumed minus solar exported. Many customers bring bills to ₹0–₹200.
Beyond just saving money — going solar has a ripple effect on your finances, your property, and the environment.
Most Mumbai homeowners reduce their electricity bill by 70–100%. A typical 3 kW system saves ₹25,000–₹35,000 per year.
Solar has a payback period of 4–6 years in Mumbai, after which it's free energy for 20+ more years. That's a 15–20% annual return.
Studies show solar-equipped homes sell faster and at a premium. A solar system is listed as an asset when selling or renting your property.
MSEDCL electricity tariffs have risen 5–8% every year. Once you go solar, you're insulated from future hikes — your "fuel" is free sunlight.
A 5 kW system offsets ~4–5 tonnes of CO₂ per year — equivalent to planting 200 trees annually. Mumbai's solar potential is among India's highest.
With a hybrid system, load shedding becomes a non-issue. Your lights, fans and essentials keep running even when the grid goes down.
Real questions from Mumbai homeowners — answered simply.
Words you'll hear when buying solar — explained without the technical jargon.