Approximately  3.8 GW of rooftop solar projects have been installed cumulatively across India as of the end of first half (1H) of 2019. During 1H 2019, approximately 555 MW of solar rooftop projects were installed across the country.

Data from the latest report by Mercom India Research – India Solar Market Leaderboard 1H 2019 – reveals that the top 10 rooftop solar developers in India accounted for 41.3% of total installations in the period while all others made up for 58.7%. Mercom India’s market share report covers top rooftop installers in 1H 2019 as well as cumulatively.

Azure Power was the top installer in 1H 2019, followed by Tata Power and Fourth Partner Energy. According to the report, Azure Power had an 8.1% market share while Tata Power was second with 7.8% market share. Fourth Partner Energy came in third with a 6.3% market share.

In terms of cumulative rooftop installations, Tata Power Solar still has the largest cumulative rooftop solar portfolio, followed by CleanMax.

In 2018, CleanMax led the rooftop market, followed by Fourth Partner, which came in second, and Tata in third place.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set a target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the end of December 2022, of which 100 GW is targeted for solar projects with 40 GW expected to come from solar rooftop installations.

General elections, regulatory headwinds in several states, and a lack of financing were some of the factors holding back the growth of the rooftop solar market in 1H 2019.

Several rooftop installers have shifted to group captive projects due to its attractiveness.

Previously, Mercom published a report that said that while educational institutions were an attractive market for rooftop solar and corporate social responsibility funds can be tapped for rooftop solar growth in this market. The e-commerce sector can also be an attractive potential market for rooftop solar.

According to a survey titled, ‘the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index’ (SARAL), Karnataka emerged as the best state in India for rooftop solar projects followed by Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka’s score stood at 78.8 and was assigned an A++.

In September 2019, to provide a boost to the untapped residential rooftop solar market, the MNRE issued a clarification regarding the subsidy applicable for rooftop solar installations by individual residential households under Phase-II of the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Program.

A complete list of rooftop installers by name and their market share in India is available at: Mercom India’s Solar Market Share Tracker.

Image Credit: Azure Power