Rooftop Solar Awareness Workshop - Surinova
Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), in collaboration with Surinova, organised a Rooftop Solar awareness workshop on Thursday , October 30, 2025, at the Surinova office, Ekkatuthangal, Chennai The event took place from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and was attended by employees of Surinova
Workshop Overview
Mr. Kaarmuhil (Consultant) and Mr. Subramani (Researcher), CAG ran the workshop. The session was conducted in association with the Surinova office. Mr.Subramani introduced CAG's work and explained the purpose of the workshop. He delivered a detailed presentation on rooftop solar PV systems, covering key topics such as:
a) important guidelines and checklists for installation,b) benefits of installing solar systems, c) details of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy schemed) capacity and space requirements for installation, and e) different types of PV systems.
The CAG team also shared broader insights on the benefits and adoption process of rooftop solar systems. Participants received IEC materials that explained system fundamentals, installation procedures, investment details, and available incentives, which they found highly informative and useful.
Mr.Subramani, Researcher, CAG explaining rooftop solar PV systems to 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:
- Weight of the solar PV system, including mounting structures and accessories:The CAG team explained that typically a single solar PV panel weighs around 20 kg to 30 kg, depending on the wattage of the panel. Considering 3 panels are connected in a 1 kW system, the total weight of the panel comes to around 75 Kg. The weight of the 1 kW mounting structure is approximately 75 Kg. Around 150 kg can be installed over an area of 10 sq.m. on the roof. The load is spread over a large area, so the impact per square meter is relatively low.
- Choosing a reliable vendor for installation:The CAG team explained that consumers can select a reliable vendor through the National Portal for PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The portal provides a list of registered and empanelled vendors. Each vendor is assigned a rating based on factors such as installation scale, equipment quality, workmanship, and service standards. These ratings are visible to consumers on the portal, helping them make an informed decision. Consumers can also shortlist and communicate with multiple vendors before finalizing their preferred one.
- Safety precautions while handling solar PV systems:The CAG team explained that when handling solar PV systems proper grounding must be ensured to prevent electrical hazards, apart from using insulated tools, and wearing protective gear such as gloves and safety glasses. Avoiding direct contact with live wires, securely fastening panels to prevent accidents and following manufacturer guidelines for installation and maintenance are all safety precautions that have to be employed consistently.The team also reminded participants to: always turn off the power before servicing to avoid the risk of electric shock, never clean panels in day time with water, never use hard water or strong acids to clean panels and never walk on solar panels.
Rooftop Solar PV awareness program participants
These questions and discussions made the workshop more engaging, interactive, and informative for all participants.
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.