Center to simplify rooftop solar installation process; to launch dedicated national portal

New Delhi: To make the installation process of rooftop solar plant Hassel free, the center on Wednesday proposed to launch a national portal for the residential consumers to avail subsidy and apply for the net metering. 

In a statement, the  Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said a simplified procedure has been issued for the residential consumers to get the rooftop solar plant installed by themselves or through any vendor of their choice under the Rooftop Solar Programme.
The household beneficiary, who wishes to install Rooftop Solar (RTS) under the new mechanism will apply on the national portal. 

It is expected that the national portal will be developed in about six to eight weeks.

The beneficiary will be required to submit necessary information including details of the bank account where the subsidy amount will be transferred. 

“At the time of application, the beneficiary will be informed about the complete process and subsidy amount that can be availed for installation of the RTS plant,” said the statement.

The application will be forwarded online to the concerned DISCOM for issuance of technical feasibility approval within the next 15 working days. 

After the application is transferred to the DISCOM it will also be displayed on the DISCOM portal.

“After obtaining technical feasibility, the beneficiary will install the RTS plant from any vendor of his choice by selecting solar modules fulfilling the conditions of DCR and enlistment under ALMM and inverters which are certified by J3IS” the ministry said.

The list of empaneled vendors will be provided on the portal. 

The Ministry said the beneficiary has to install its plant within a specified period otherwise his application will be cancelled and he has to re-apply for installation of RTS plant.

Upon installation of RTS plant, the beneficiary will apply for net-metering on the national portal, which will be forwarded online to the concerned DISCOM. 

“Till the national portal comes into operation, the existing procedure for availing subsidy for installation of the rooftop solar plant through DISCOMs will continue and will be the only authorized procedure to avail subsidy from MNRE” the ministry said.