MNRE is seeking innovative project proposals to boost rooftop solar deployment under PMSGMBY scheme
Proposals should show innovative concepts with technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness
Financial assistance is capped at 60% of the total project cost or INR 300 million, whichever is lower
MNRE says over 3 GW out of targeted 30 GW rooftop solar capacity under PMSGMBY was achieved till March 10, 2025; remaining 27 GW is to be achieved by March 2027
The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has invited proposals for innovative projects under the country’s flagship rooftop solar (RTS) scheme PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar.
Announced in February 2024, the PMSGMBY targets to solarize 10 million households by providing them with up to 300 million units of free electricity/month. India expects this scheme to help install 30 GW of PV capacity in the country (see India Eyeing 30 GW Rooftop Solar Capacity With New Scheme).
Project proposals sought are to be sent in for innovative component of the scheme through which the ministry seeks to showcase and demonstrate innovative solar technologies, applications or integration techniques.
Specifically, proposals are invited to show concepts that demonstrate the scalability of the technologies such as Blockchain-Based Peer-to-Peer RTS to encourage energy trading in this segment, digital solutions, smart building materials, RTS with electric vehicles (EV), grid-responsive RTS with battery storage solutions, integration of RTS with smart grids, community solar models, innovative financial models, and others.
Proposals will be evaluated as per relevance, cost-effectiveness and ‘completeness’, technical feasibility, societal value, and technology readiness of the proposed technology, among other criteria.
Once the letter of award (LoA) is issued, winners will have 18 months to execute the project.
Out of the total financial outlay of INR 750 billion ($9 billion) for the scheme, selected projects will be supported with financial assistance capped at 60% of the total project cost or INR 300 million ($3.51 million), whichever is lower.
The funding call is open to R&D or academic institutions including engineering colleges, industries, societies, trusts, NGOs/students, startups, and organizations engaged in the R&D for the promotion of new and renewable energy.
The ministry will accept proposals under this call launched on May 29, 2025 till July 29, 2025.
As of January 27, 2025 Gujarat led installations under the scheme, followed by Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan, according to the MNRE.
Rooftop solar installations under the scheme exceeded 1 million as of March 10, 2025 with Chandigarh, and Daman and Diu achieving 100% of their government building rooftop solar targets. This represents over 3 GW in installed capacity with the remaining 27 GW out of 30 GW targeted to be achieved by March 2027.