Mon Apr 07 05:17:42 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu’s Solar Rooftop Scheme Sees Slow Uptake Despite Improvements

**Chennai, April 7, 2025** – While the Tamil Nadu government’s Prime Minister Surya Ghar subsidy scheme for solar rooftop installations has seen some progress, significant hurdles remain in achieving its ambitious goals. Data reveals that only 26,755 domestic consumers had installed solar rooftops under the scheme by February 2025, a year after its launch.

Although Tangedco officials acknowledge the need for greater outreach, they report streamlining of the application and reimbursement processes. Improvements include dedicated grievance meetings and WhatsApp groups to address consumer and vendor concerns, particularly in areas like Chennai’s Perumbur. The Chennai North Circle, for example, has implemented a dedicated grievance meeting from 3 p.m. onwards to address issues.

Environmental engineer Prabhakaran Veeraarasu of Poovulagin Nanbargal highlights the crucial role of solar rooftops in energy transition. He advocates for increased government incentives and investment in battery storage research and development. He points to existing awareness challenges and procedural hurdles as obstacles to wider adoption. The government aims for 20,000 MW of solar power capacity and 10,000 MW of battery storage by 2030.

The subsidy scheme covers 60% of the cost for systems up to 2 kW and 40% for systems between 2 kW and 3 kW, offering subsidies of ₹30,000, ₹60,000, and ₹78,000 respectively. While the application process now typically takes less than two months, according to Tangedco officials, further efforts are needed to boost participation and reach the state’s ambitious renewable energy targets.

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