Rooftop Solar PV Awareness Workshop - Ponnambalam Colony , KK Nagar
Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), Asar and Poovulagin Nanbargal organized a Rooftop Solar PV Awareness Workshop on Thursday,30 October, 2025, at MGR Nagar, Ponnambalam Colony, KK Nagar. The event, held from 2:30PM to 4:30 PM, saw the participation of 15 residents from KK Nagar.
Workshop Overview
Consultants from CAG shared insights on rooftop solar PV systems. Participants were provided with IEC materials which explained topics such as system fundamentals, installation process, financial requirements, and available incentives, which they found highly useful.
During introductions, participants shared details about their neighborhoods, and housing types (whether villa, apartment, or individual residence). Almost all of the attendees lived in individual houses and were interested in implementing solar to lower their electricity costs.
Ms.Aleena, Consultant, CAG addressed the gathering by stating the purpose of the workshop. She also provided an in-depth explanation of rooftop solar PV systems, covering:
- System types and capacity requirements
- Space needed for installation
- Investment costs and available subsidies for different electricity tariffs
- Payback period calculations based on electricity consumption
- Key guidelines and checklists for installation
Ms.Aleena, Consultant CAG explaining about the rooftop solar PV systems to the participants.
Participant Queries
The workshop featured a Question & Answers (Q&A) session where the participants raised several significant questions such as queries on safety issues, vendor availability, property-specific requirements, financial investments, and technical requirements. In response, Ms. Aleena provided comprehensive explanations, leading to an engaging and informative discussion with the attendees.
Some of the questions asked by participants were as follows:
- A participant asked if all three types of rooftop solar systems are eligible for government subsidies.
Explanation : As of now only on-grid solar PV installations would receive subsidies.
- A participant questioned why rooftop solar systems aren't that popular.
Explanation : The main reason for rooftop solar not yet being popular stems mainly from a lack of awareness. Data on how installed solar capacity in the State drastically increased after the initiation of PM Surya Ghar scheme, was shared.
- A participant requested more information on the bidirectional meter.
Explanation : A bidirectional meter is mandatory. If a house has a unidirectional meter, it must be replaced with a bidirectional one. These days, the TNPCDL installs bidirectional meters in all new houses by default.
Next Steps & Conclusion
The workshop was a highly informative and interactive session where important insights were shared about rooftop solar.
Ms. Aleena, Consultant, CAG concluded the session, and participants expressed their appreciation for the initiative. Few participants further requested assistance for installing rooftop solar PV systems in their homes. The participants were asked to contact CAG in case of any doubts or queries. For further details, CAG has prepared an SOP for rooftop solar installations. You can access the English version here and the Tamil version here.