Sun power: Solar becomes Kerala’s leading power source, overtakes hydropower

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a landmark shift for Kerala’s energy landscape, solar power capacity has officially overtaken hydroelectric generation. Driven by a desire to escape high electricity bills, a growing number of consumers are turning to rooftop solar installations.

While the total installed capacity of hydroelectric projects, including Idukki, stands at 2,196.36 MW, solar capacity surged to 2,215.59 MW as of March 31.

Despite the state’s historical reliance on hydropower, it currently meets only about 20% of daily demand. To cover the deficit, electricity is purchased from external sources at rates often exceeding ₹10 per unit. This reliance on expensive external power has led to significant financial losses and the imposition of surcharges on the public.

The growth disparity is stark: in 2024-25, only 100 MW was added through hydroelectric projects, whereas solar capacity expanded by a massive 566.53 MW during the same period.

PM Surya Ghar

The Central Government's PM Surya Ghar scheme has been the primary engine for this expansion. For a standard household requiring a 3 kW solar plant, the total cost is approximately ₹2 lakhs, with the central government providing a subsidy of up to ₹78,000.

Of the total 2,215.59 MW solar capacity:

• Rooftop plants account for 1,850.4 MW.
• Ground-mounted plants contribute 340.26 MW.
• Off-grid solar makes up 24.93 MW.

The urgency for self-sufficiency is highlighted by the fact that the state spent ₹12,749.65 crore on external power purchases in 2024-25 alone.

The Electricity Board has raised concerns that solar power, produced only during the day, does not alleviate the peak demand at night. They argue that exchanging cheap daytime solar for expensive nighttime power is financially unsustainable.

However, experts suggest this can be mitigated by installing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), which can store solar energy for up to four hours for use after sunset. While the government is initiating battery storage at five locations, there is a strong call to expand this system across the state.

There is also criticism regarding the slow progress of Floating Solar projects. Despite the success of the 500 kW plant at the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad, plans to implement similar floating panels in other reservoirs have largely remained on paper. Expanding these projects could significantly boost the state's renewable energy profile without requiring additional land.