Rooftop Solar Payback in India: What Businesses Should Expect

For commercial and industrial (C&I) businesses paying ₹8–₹12 per unit, rooftop solar is one of the highest-return investments available — typically paying back in 3 to 5 years and then delivering near-free electricity for 20+ years.

The basic economics

A rule of thumb: every 1 kW of rooftop solar needs roughly 100 sq.ft of shadow-free area and generates about 1,400–1,600 units per year in most of India. At a C&I tariff of ₹9/unit, that's ₹12,000–₹14,000 of avoided electricity cost per kW, every year.

What drives your payback period

• Tariff: The higher your current per-unit cost, the faster solar pays back.
• Self-consumption: Power used directly on-site saves the most; net-metering credits the surplus.
• System cost: C&I systems are typically ₹40,000–₹50,000 per kW installed, depending on scale and structure.
• Net-metering policy: Your state DISCOM's policy affects how surplus units are credited.

A simple example

A factory with a ₹1,00,000/month bill might install ~90 kW of solar for around ₹40 lakh, save ₹80,000–₹95,000 per month, and recover the investment in roughly 3.5–4 years — followed by two decades of savings worth several crore.

Beyond the savings

Solar also hedges you against tariff hikes, supports ESG/sustainability goals, and adds a visible CSR signal for clients and auditors.

Want your own numbers? Try our solar savings calculator, then ask us for an engineered quote with exact, site-specific figures.