Rooftop Solar Awareness Workshop - Kambar Colony Welfare Association
Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), in collaboration with Kambar Colony Residents’ Welfare Association, organised a Rooftop Solar awareness workshop on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Kambar Colony Playground Indoor Stadium, Anna Nagar. The event took place from 06:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and was attended by 40 residents from Kambar Colony.
Workshop Overview
Mr. Kaarmuhil (Consultant) and Mr. Subramani, Researcher, CAG attended the workshop. The session was conducted in association with Mr. Semmozhi, Local Body Representative and the Kambar Colony Residents’ Welfare Association.
Mr.Subramani, Researcher, CAG explaining rooftop solar PV systems to participants.
Mr. Subramani, Researcher, CAG, introduced the organisation’s work and explained the purpose of the workshop and provided a detailed presentation on rooftop solar PV systems. His session covered the following key topics: a) key guidelines and checklists for installation, b) benefits of installing solar, c) PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy scheme d) capacity & space required for installation, e) types of PV systems.
CAG team also shared broader insights into the benefits and the process of adopting rooftop solar systems. Participants received IEC materials covering essential topics such as system fundamentals, installation procedures, investment details, and available incentives, which they found highly informative and useful.
All the participants were from the same area, and most of them lived in individual houses. Most of them reported that they were interested in reducing their electricity bills by using solar energy.
Rooftop Solar PV awareness program participants
Participant Queries and Discussion
During the interactive Q&A session, participants raised several insightful questions related to rooftop solar systems. The CAG team responded with detailed explanations, addressing both technical and practical aspects.
Some questions asked by the participants during the meeting were about:
- The cost of installing a rooftop solar PV system. The CAG team explained that the cost varies depending on system capacity, component quality, and installation conditions. Approximate costs are as follows:
- On-Grid System: Rs.. 50,000 – Rs. 80,000 per kW
- Off-Grid System (with Lead Acid Battery): Rs. 90,000 – Rs. 1,20,000 per kW
- Hybrid System (with Li-ion Battery): Rs.1,25,000 – Rs.1,45,000 per kW
- Space required to install a rooftop solar PV system: The CAG team explained that typically 1 kW requires about 60 - 100 ft² of shadow-free rooftop space.
- Time taken to receive the subsidy amount: The CAG team clarified that the subsidy is processed within 15 days of approval by the respective DISCOM. If any queries arise during the DISCOM inspection, they must be resolved before the subsidy is disbursed.
- Time period to complete the installation: The CAG team explained that after selecting the vendor, installation takes about 7 to 15 days, depending on system size and site conditions. Net metering approval from DISCOM can take an additional 7 to 14 days.
These questions and the discussions contributed to an engaging and informative workshop experience.
Next Steps & Conclusion
Mr.Kaarmuhil concluded the session, with participants expressing appreciation for the initiative. The participants were asked to contact CAG in case of any doubts or queries related to rooftop solar. For further details, CAG has prepared an SOP for rooftop solar installations. You can access the English version here and the Tamil version here.