Assam Targets 1.9 GW Rooftop Solar by 2030, Up From 60 MW Now

Assam, one of India’s most climate-vulnerable states, is showing intent to scale rooftop solar (RTS) energy, but still faces hurdles in tapping its full potential. According to officials, the state currently generates only 60 MW of RTS power, against a technical potential estimated between 7,321 MW and 13,428 MW.

Speaking at an official briefing on Assam’s rooftop solar potential and progress under the Integrated Clean Energy Policy (ICEP), Hirdesh Mishra, CEO of the Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS), acknowledged the challenges but underlined the state’s commitment to clean energy.

“Fossil fuel dependence isn’t going away soon, but we are making a determined push,” he said.

Mishra noted that financial access is the biggest barrier, adding that RTS will flourish as costs fall. Under Assam’s new Integrated Clean Energy Policy (ICEP), the RTS sector is categorised into government, commercial and industrial (C&I), and residential segments – all overseen by the Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL).

20,000 Installations So Far, but Barriers Remain

Baishali Talukdar, Deputy Manager of New and Renewable Energy at APDCL, said the state has seen progress under the PM Surya Ghar Scheme, with 20,000 rooftop installations aggregating 60 MW completed.

However, key challenges persist – limited consumer awareness, few skilled vendors, high upfront costs despite subsidies, and delayed loan disbursements. APDCL is working to mitigate these through awareness drives, faster vendor empanelment, and digital platforms for quicker approvals.

Land-Neutral Tech Offers a Big Advantage

Highlighting the importance of RTS for Assam, Mandvi Singh, Programme Director at environmental think-tank iFOREST, said, “Rooftop solar is land-neutral, which is critical in a state where land acquisition for large-scale renewables is difficult.”

According to the recently released iFOREST’s study, fully harnessing Assam’s 13,000 MW rooftop solar potential could power the entire state and generate over 1.8 lakh direct jobs. About 95 percent of this potential lies in residential and mixed-use buildings.

Urban areas – especially Guwahati – offer the highest potential, estimated between 625 and 984 MW. Most existing installations lie within 200 km of Guwahati, while regions like the Barak Valley remain largely untapped.

The study also notes that solar insolation decreases from south to north Assam, with Hailakandi, Karimganj, and Cachar receiving the most solar energy. In contrast, Dhemaji and Tinsukia see the least.

All of these remarks were made in Guwahati, between June 20–22, 2025, during the release of iFOREST’s rooftop solar study and official briefings tied to the new Integrated Clean Energy Policy.