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The library

Become the sharpest buyer in the room.

Nine plain-language articles and a full glossary, built from MNRE, CEEW and SECI data. No jargon, no sales pitch, just what you need to make a confident decision, whether you're sizing a home rooftop or a commercial installation.

For your home

015-min read · Economics

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.

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026-min read · Comparison

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.

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037-min read · Subsidy

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.

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048-min read · Due diligence

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.

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055-min read · Environment

The hidden costs of fossil fuel energy

Your bill shows the tariff, not the health costs, subsidy burden or import dependency that come with every unit of coal-fired power.

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064-min read · Data & insights

India’s renewable revolution in 10 numbers

Installed capacity, manufacturing scale, the cheapest tariff on record, and how close the country is to its 500 GW target.

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For your business

077-min read · SME focus

Why Indian SMEs are switching to solar

For a small or medium business, electricity is often the second or third largest cost. Real ROI numbers, tax benefits and the margin case.

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086-min read · B2B & corporate

REC compliance, ESG & the new rules

RPO has become RCO, with a steeper target through 2030. What that, REC pricing and BRSR actually mean for your business.

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095-min read · EV & infrastructure

EV charging + solar

Why EV charging without solar is a thin-margin business, and how hotels, malls and apartment complexes are pairing the two.

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Quick reference

The terms vendors assume you know.

You don't need to be an engineer, but these turn every conversation with an installer into a level one.

kW Kilowatt
The unit of power, how fast energy is generated or consumed at any moment.
Why it mattersDetermines the size of your system, e.g. a "3 kW system."
kWh Kilowatt-hour
One kilowatt of power sustained for one hour, the unit of energy, distinct from kW which is the unit of power.
Why it mattersIt's what your bill charges you for, and what solar produces.
Peak sun hours
Hours per day when sunlight intensity reaches 1,000 W/m², the standard test condition.
Why it mattersDetermines how much your panels actually generate in your city.
Capacity factor
Actual energy generated divided by the maximum possible if the system ran at full power 24/7. For solar in India, typically 18–22%.
Why it mattersTells you how "productive" a system really is, beyond its rated size.
CAGR Compound Annual Growth Rate
The smoothed annual growth rate of a value over several years, accounting for compounding.
Why it mattersUsed to describe market and capacity growth, helps you read industry trend claims correctly.
Net metering
You export surplus solar to the grid and receive credit on your bill, drawn down when your panels under-produce.
Why it mattersEssential to the economics, your DISCOM must approve a net meter.
MNRE Ministry of New & Renewable Energy
The central government body regulating renewable energy in India.
Why it mattersYour installer must be MNRE-empanelled for you to receive the subsidy.
DISCOM Distribution Company
The utility that supplies power to your premises and processes net-metering and subsidy records.
Why it mattersYou apply to your DISCOM for net metering; the subsidy flows through its records.
Mono-PERC panel
Monocrystalline Passivated Emitter Rear Cell, a high-efficiency cell technology that performs well in low light.
Why it mattersCurrently the best value for money for Indian rooftops.
String inverter
A single central inverter converting power from all panels connected in series.
Why it mattersStandard and cost-effective, but output drops if even one panel is shaded.
Microinverter
An individual inverter fitted on each panel rather than one shared unit.
Why it mattersCosts more, but performs noticeably better on partially shaded roofs.
MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracking
Inverter technology that continuously optimises power output as sunlight conditions change.
Why it mattersPoor MPPT quality can quietly cost you 5–15% of generation.
On / Off / Hybrid system
On-grid ties to the grid and shuts off in a cut. Off-grid uses batteries and runs independently. Hybrid combines both.
Why it mattersDetermines cost and whether you get backup during outages.
Degradation rate
How much a panel's output falls each year, typically 0.3–0.5%.
Why it mattersAfter 25 years, a good panel should still produce at least 80% of its original output.
RPO / RCO Renewable Purchase / Consumption Obligation
The mandatory minimum share of renewable energy that DISCOMs, open-access consumers and large captive users must source. State-level RPOs have now been consolidated into a single national RCO trajectory, running to 43.33% by FY 2029–30.
Why it mattersIf your business is an obligated or designated consumer, falling short carries a real, budgetable penalty.
REC Renewable Energy Certificate
A tradeable certificate representing 1 MWh generated from a renewable source, traded on IEX and PXIL. Prices are now fully market-determined, with no CERC-set floor or ceiling since 2022.
Why it mattersCompanies buy RECs to meet RPO/RCO targets without generating their own renewable power.
PPA Power Purchase Agreement
A long-term contract to buy power from a renewable energy generator at an agreed rate.
Why it mattersLets businesses buy solar power from a third party at fixed rates without owning the plant.
CAPEX vs OPEX model
CAPEX: you own the system upfront and keep all savings. OPEX/RESCO: a developer installs at no upfront cost and sells you the power at a fixed tariff.
Why it mattersDecides who owns the asset and how much you save.
Accelerated depreciation
A 40% depreciation allowance on solar assets in Year 1 under the Income Tax Act, versus 15% for ordinary plant and machinery.
Why it mattersA meaningful tax benefit if you run a business from the property.
Payback period
The time needed to recover your investment purely from energy savings. Typically 3–6 years for Indian residential and commercial solar at current tariffs.
Why it mattersThe clearest single number for comparing solar against any other use of the same capital.
Reading is step one

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Your next step

Use the free tools, decide for yourself.

We're an independent educational platform, not a sales channel. No forms, no calls, no pressure, explore the tools and go at your own pace.

Find your solar match Answer five quick questions for a best-fit panel and inverter, sized and priced. Start Solar Match → Run your numbers Your city's real tariffs and the current subsidy, for an honest payback. Open the calculator → Learn the essentials Plain-language guides on subsidy, quotes, and what actually matters. Read the guides →
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