A residential welfare association (RWA) in Lucknow has successfully implemented a community solar rooftop project, marking a significant step toward clean and self-reliant energy adoption in urban housing societies.
The initiative has been undertaken under the Government of India’s PM Surya Ghar Yojana, which promotes the installation of solar rooftop systems in group housing societies (GHS) and RWAs to meet electricity requirements for common areas. These include community lighting, lifts, water pumps, and other shared facilities. Under the scheme, solar rooftop systems with a capacity of up to 500 kW can be installed for common-area electricity consumption.
The project was implemented at Surya Apartment located on Goshal Marg in Lucknow, where a 15 kW solar rooftop system was installed specifically for common-area electricity connections. The system was commissioned approximately two months ago and is reported to be the first solar rooftop installation under the scheme in any RWA in Lucknow.
The total project cost stood at ₹8.10 lakh, out of which the RWA received a central subsidy of ₹2.70 lakh. The subsidy is provided at a rate of ₹18,000 per kW, calculated based on a benchmark of 3 kW per residential unit, as per the scheme guidelines.
Since becoming operational, the solar rooftop system has resulted in monthly electricity bill savings of approximately ₹15,000 to ₹20,000. In addition to reducing recurring electricity expenses for community facilities, the project is expected to support the development of improved and more sustainable shared amenities for residents in the long term.
Officials and stakeholders noted that the initiative serves as a model for other RWAs and group housing societies in Lucknow to adopt solar energy solutions. The use of rooftop solar power not only contributes to lower electricity costs but also supports environmental conservation and the broader national objective of promoting clean energy.
Residents and RWAs have been encouraged to leverage the benefits of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana to install solar rooftop systems for common-area usage and move toward greener, more energy-independent communities.
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