The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) has unveiled an ambitious plan to provide up to 100% solar-powered electricity to two villages in each district within the next two months.
Manyachiwadi in Patan Taluka, Satara district, will be the first village to benefit, becoming a ‘solar village’ with maximum solar-powered electricity. Over 70 other villages across Maharashtra will follow, with a focus on rooftop solar power generation. The government will offer subsidies to help residents install rooftop solar panels. Under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, households in selected villages can receive up to Rs 78,000 in subsidies for installing solar panels up to 3 kW, enabling them to generate their own electricity and potentially sell excess power back to MSEDCL, resulting in zero bills and possible additional income.
The initiative also includes funding for solarizing water supply and street lighting schemes in these villages to further reduce dependency on conventional electricity.
The Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, targeting 300 units of free power for one crore households nationwide, aims to install rooftop solar in 2 million households in Maharashtra. So far, approximately 35 million consumers have registered, with 2.3 lakh applying through the Mahavitaran portal.
The scheme offers substantial subsidies: Rs 30,000 per kilowatt for systems up to 2 kW, with an additional Rs 18,000 for the third kilowatt. Larger systems receive a fixed subsidy of Rs 78,000, and cooperative housing schemes can benefit from Rs 18,000 per kilowatt for up to 500 kW, including vehicle charging facilities.
This solar initiative marks a significant step toward sustainable energy in Maharashtra, setting an example for other regions. Maharashtra ranks fifth in India for installed renewable energy capacity, which increased from 11,476 MW to 12,271 MW, with renewable energy’s share rising from 23.8% to 32.1% over the last five years.