For residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional

For residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional in West Bengal — this guide covers the West Bengal Solar Policy 2017 / WB Rooftop Solar Programme (WBREDA / WBSEDCL). Administered by West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) / WBSEDCL / Energy Dept., Govt. of West Bengal. Below are subsidy rates, eligibility, technical rules, documents, and scheme process.

Subsidy benefits

• Central CFA (PM Surya Ghar): up to Rs.78,000
• WB state additional: Rs.5,000–Rs.10,000 residential top-up (WBREDA)
• Agricultural solar pumps (PM KUSUM): 60% total
• Ganga Rashmi Scheme: free solar lanterns for tribal households in Sundarbans

Authority and scope

• Government body: West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) / WBSEDCL / Energy Dept., Govt. of West Bengal
• Nodal agency: WBREDA (West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency)
• Eligible for: residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional
• Installation type: Rooftop on-grid + floating solar (reservoir) + off-grid (Sundarbans)

Eligibility and disbursement

• Open to multiple consumer categories.
• Income restrictions: No income restriction; SC/ST and tribal (Sundarbans, Darjeeling hills) get off-grid solar priority.
• Disbursement timeline: 30–60 days post-commissioning
• Disbursement mode: DBT via WBREDA; central CFA via WBSEDCL/CESC
• Maximum capacity: 500 kW

Net metering and technical rules

• Net metering is available under this scheme.
• Net metering policy: WBERC (Net Metering for Grid Connected Solar Photo-Voltaic) Regulations 2012 (amended 2023). 1 kW–1 MW. DISCOMs: WBSEDCL (entire WB except Kolkata metro), CESC (Kolkata city and suburbs, PIN 700001–700140).
• Gross metering policy: WBERC gross metering for >1 MW. PPA-based tariff via WBSEDCL.
• Hybrid policy: WB Solar + Floating Solar on reservoirs policy 2023; Sundarbans off-grid solar hybrid.
• DISCOM requirements: WBSEDCL: All West Bengal except Kolkata city. CESC (Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation): Kolkata city and adjoining areas (PIN 700001–700140, Howrah 711xxx, Hooghly 712xxx).

How to apply

Apply on WBREDA portal or pmsuryaghar.gov.in

Select DISCOM (WBSEDCL or CESC)

WBREDA-empanelled vendor selection

Installation + net meter

DISCOM inspection + commissioning

State top-up + central CFA via DBT

Documents required

• Aadhaar card
• Electricity bill (consumer number)
• Property documents (Deed / Mutation certificate)
• Bank account details
• Ration card (BPL/tribal priority)

Additional details

• Scheme budget: WB target: 5,000 MW RE by 2025; solar: 2,000 MW. PM Surya Ghar: 90,000+ registrations.
• Target beneficiaries: All WB consumers. Key areas: Kolkata (700xxx), Howrah (711xxx), Durgapur (713xxx), Asansol (713xxx), Siliguri (734xxx), Malda (732xxx), Bardhaman (713xxx).
• Progress: West Bengal: 1.5+ GW solar installed (April 2025). WBSEDCL float solar tenders at Maithon and Panchet reservoirs ongoing.