"Solar subsidy in Kerala" now means one thing for homes: the central government's PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. KSEB handles the local work (feasibility, the net meter and commissioning), and the money comes from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). This guide covers how much you get, who qualifies, how long it takes, how to check your status, and what to do if it is stuck. For the application itself, see our step-by-step subsidy guide.
How much subsidy you get in Kerala
The subsidy is fixed by system size, not by the price you pay, and it stops rising at 3 kW. Here is what it means for Jasper Solar's 2026 prices for on-grid home systems:
| System size | Price before subsidy | Subsidy | Your net cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹90,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹60,000 |
| 2 kW | ₹1,65,000 | ₹60,000 | ₹1,05,000 |
| 3 kW | ₹2,15,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹1,37,000 |
| 4 kW | ₹2,80,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹2,02,000 |
| 5 kW | ₹3,20,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹2,42,000 |
| Housing society / RWA (common facilities) | By quote | ₹18,000 per kW | By quote |
Because the subsidy is ₹30,000 a kW for the first 2 kW, ₹18,000 for the third and nothing beyond, 3 kW is the size that gets the most help. A 5 kW system gets the same ₹78,000 as a 3 kW one. See solar panel cost in Kerala 2026 for prices and payback in more detail.
Is there a separate Kerala state subsidy?
Not for homes, as of October 2026. Kerala does not add its own cash subsidy on top of PM Surya Ghar. You may still see the older KSEB "Soura" rooftop scheme on some websites, where the subsidy was taken off the price upfront. For new home systems, the subsidy now comes through the PM Surya Ghar portal and is paid to you after commissioning. KSEB and ANERT, Kerala's nodal agency for renewable energy, support the scheme but do not pay a second subsidy.
What Kerala homes do get besides the subsidy is net metering: the units your system sends to the grid in the day are set off against what you use at night, so a well-sized system can bring the bill down to the fixed charges.
Who qualifies
- The house is yours, and the roof can take the panels (about 90 sq ft of shade-free roof per kW)
- A residential KSEB connection in your name
- No central rooftop solar subsidy taken before on the same connection
- The system is grid-connected with net metering, uses DCR panels (made with Indian cells), and is installed by a vendor registered for Kerala on the portal
Shops, offices and other commercial connections do not get this subsidy. Businesses benefit in other ways, such as 40% accelerated depreciation; see solar for businesses in Kerala.
How long the subsidy takes to arrive
The subsidy is released only after KSEB has fitted the net meter, inspected the system and issued the commissioning certificate on the portal. After that, the scheme aims to pay within about 30 days. In practice the wait depends mostly on whether your details are complete and match.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Registration and application | You register on the portal and choose your vendor. Takes a day. |
| KSEB feasibility | KSEB checks your connection and the local transformer. |
| Installation | Usually a day or two on the roof once materials are ready. |
| Net meter and inspection | KSEB fits the net meter and commissions the system. This is where most waiting happens in 2026, because of the net meter shortage. |
| Bank details and claim | You enter your bank details and upload a cancelled cheque. |
| Subsidy paid | Credited directly to your bank account, usually about 30 days after the claim if nothing needs correcting. |
How to check your subsidy status
- Go to pmsuryaghar.gov.in and log in with your KSEB consumer number and registered mobile number.
- Open your application. The status shows which stage it has reached: feasibility, installation, inspection, commissioning, bank details, or subsidy released.
- If it says account verification pending, the portal is still checking your bank details. Make sure the account is in the applicant's name, exactly as on the KSEB bill, and that the cancelled cheque is clear.
- If it has not moved for more than about 45 days after you submitted your bank details, raise a grievance on the portal, and ask your installer to follow up with the KSEB section office.
Why a subsidy gets held up, and the fix
- Name mismatch: the name on the KSEB connection, the portal and the bank account must be the same. If the connection is in a parent's name, transfer it first or apply in that name.
- Wrong or unclear bank details: re-upload a clear cancelled cheque or passbook page showing the account number, IFSC and name.
- Size mismatch: the size in the commissioning certificate should match what was sanctioned. Your installer can get it corrected.
- Waiting for the net meter: KSEB has suggested consumers can buy their own approved net meter rather than wait (Kerala Kaumudi). Ask your installer about the wait in your section.
- Unpaid KSEB dues on the connection can also delay approval, so clear them before applying.
Paying before the subsidy comes
Since the subsidy comes after commissioning, you pay the full price first. If that is hard, a solar loan helps: under the SBI Surya Ghar loan, systems up to 3 kW can be financed at about 6% a year for up to 10 years, with the subsidy credited to the loan account. Our solar loan EMI calculator shows the monthly amount.
Common questions
How much is the solar subsidy in Kerala in 2026?
₹30,000 for 1 kW, ₹60,000 for 2 kW and ₹78,000 for 3 kW or more, under PM Surya Ghar. Housing societies get ₹18,000 per kW for common facilities.
Does a 5 kW system get more subsidy than 3 kW?
No. The subsidy stops at ₹78,000, the amount for 3 kW. You can install 5 kW, but the extra 2 kW is paid in full.
Is the subsidy taken off the installer's price?
No. You pay the installer the full price, and the subsidy is paid into your bank account after KSEB commissions the system.
How many days does the subsidy take to be credited?
Usually about 30 days after commissioning and a correct bank-details claim. It takes longer if the name, bank details or system size do not match.
Can NRIs get the solar subsidy in Kerala?
Yes, if you are an Indian citizen, own the house and the KSEB connection is in your name. The subsidy is paid to an Indian bank account in the applicant's name, so check with us which account to use before you claim.
Is there a subsidy for hybrid systems with batteries?
The subsidy is for the grid-connected solar capacity with net metering. Batteries get no subsidy and carry 18% GST.
Jasper Solar is MNRE empanelled and KSEB authorized, and handles the portal, KSEB follow-ups and the subsidy claim for you. Subsidy rules are set by MNRE and can change, so we confirm the current amounts when we quote.
Sources
- Press Information Bureau, Cabinet approves PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, 29 February 2024
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, PM Surya Ghar national portal
- Kerala State Electricity Board, eKiran solar rooftop portal
- Kerala Kaumudi, State faces shortage of solar net meters, 2026
Er. Akhil S.TProject Engineer, Jasper Solar Solutions
Project engineer with 7 years in the solar field and more than 400 completed solar projects. Akhil designs and oversees rooftop installations for homes and businesses, from site survey to KSEB commissioning.
