Find your solar match in 60 seconds.
Five quick questions. One matched system, a named panel and inverter for your city, roof and budget, sized, priced and subsidy-checked. Reasoning shown, phone number optional.
How rooftop solar actually works.
You don't need to be an engineer to make a smart decision. The whole thing comes down to three steps, and one idea, net metering, that most first-timers get wrong.
Panels turn daylight into power
Solar panels on your roof produce DC electricity from daylight, not just direct sun. An inverter converts it to the AC your home already runs on. Your appliances draw from solar first, automatically, whenever the sun is up.
Net metering runs your meter backward
On a sunny afternoon you generate more than you use. That surplus flows back into the grid and your meter records it as a credit, this is net metering. You're effectively using the grid as a free battery.
At night, you spend those credits
After dark and during the monsoon, you draw power from the grid and pay for it with the credits you banked. Over a year, a well-sized system can cut most households' bills down to little more than fixed charges.
The subsidy makes step one cheaper. The central PM Surya Ghar scheme puts up to ₹78,000 back in your bank account for a 3 kW system, and several states add more. See what your state offers →
Start with the tools.
India’s independent solar comparison platform, a solar comparison tool, an honest calculator and a state subsidy explorer. All free, no sign-up.
Solar Match
Four taps to your best-fit panel + inverter, sized, priced, and ready to quote. Expert compare included.
Find my match →Savings calculator
Your city's real tariff slabs, your roof type, the exact subsidy, and an honest payback, even when it's slow.
Open the calculator →State subsidy explorer
Pick your state: top-ups, tariffs, sun hours, DISCOM and an indicative payback, with the application steps mapped.
Check my state →Understand solar before you spend on it.
Plain-language pieces on the economics, the subsidy, and the due diligence, written to make you a sharper buyer, not to sell you panels.
The real cost of doing nothing
Your bill has beaten inflation for ten years, and it compounds. What ₹3,000/month becomes by 2033, and why waiting is the expensive choice.
Read article →Solar vs grid, rupee by rupee
The full cost comparison for four types of Indian household, installation, subsidy, savings and 25-year value, with the cloudy-day myth handled.
Read article →The PM Surya Ghar subsidy, decoded
Up to ₹78,000 central plus state top-ups, and uptake is accelerating fast. Exactly what you get and how to apply, step by step.
Read article →How to read a solar quote
The 12-point checklist that has saved thousands of buyers from an expensive mistake, what every quote must name, and the red flags to walk away from.
Read article →The questions everyone asks before switching.
Straight answers, including the ones where solar isn't the perfect fit.
Does solar work during the monsoon and on cloudy days?
Yes, at reduced output. Panels run on daylight, not direct sun alone, a heavily overcast day typically produces 10–25% of normal. The annual figures in our calculator already average the monsoon in, and net-metering credits banked in sunny months carry you through the cloudy ones.
What happens during a power cut?
A standard on-grid system shuts off during an outage, that's a mandatory safety feature (anti-islanding) protecting linemen working on the grid. If backup matters to you, a hybrid inverter with a battery keeps essentials running; it costs more upfront, and our comparison tool covers the trade-off.
Will it damage my roof? What maintenance does it need?
A properly engineered mounting structure sits on the roof without compromising waterproofing, which is exactly why the structure warranty and wind-load spec belong in writing before you sign. Maintenance is modest: periodic cleaning and an annual check, roughly ₹600 per kW per year, which our calculator already counts against your savings.
I live in a flat, can I still get solar?
Often, yes. A top-floor flat with roof rights can usually fit up to about 3 kW (the calculator has a setting for exactly this). Larger wins come when the society installs common-area solar for lifts, pumps and lighting, worth raising at your next association meeting.
What if I move house before the payback?
The system stays and typically adds to resale value, buyers understand a near-zero electricity bill. With typical paybacks of 3.5–4.5 years at today's tariffs, most owners cross break-even well before they move. It's a reasonable question, and the honest answer is: the earlier you install, the smaller the risk.
Is the ₹78,000 subsidy actually paid out, and how long does it take?
Yes, it's a direct bank transfer (DBT) after your system is commissioned and inspected, usually within a few weeks. Over 40 lakh homes have already received it. The catch people miss: you must apply through the national portal and use an MNRE-empanelled installer, or you're not eligible. Our subsidy guide walks through every step.
How long does installation actually take?
The physical installation is quick, one to three days for a typical home system. The longer pole is paperwork: net-metering approval from your DISCOM takes anywhere from two to six weeks depending on your state. A good installer files and chases this for you; make sure your contract says whose job it is.
Do you collect my details or call me?
No. GreenCompare Solar is an educational platform, there are no enquiry forms and no sales calls. Every tool and guide works without giving us anything. When you are ready to act, we point you to verified manufacturers and installers, and you deal with them directly. The full policy is in plain language here.
You've seen the model. Explore at your own pace.
GreenCompare Solar is an independent educational platform, not a sales channel. Everything here is free and open, no forms, no calls. Use the tools, read the guides, and decide with confidence.