Solar Calculator Kerala 2026

Rooftop solar in Kerala: KSEB, Soura and the 2026 metering rules

Almost every home in Kerala is supplied by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), the single state DISCOM. KSEB runs its own rooftop programme, branded Soura, which lets you go solar either by paying upfront yourself (the CAPEX route, where you own the panels and claim the central subsidy) or by letting a developer install and own the system on your roof under a RESCO model. For most households claiming the national subsidy, the self-owned CAPEX route through Soura is the usual path.

How net metering works here

Under net metering, the units your panels export to the grid are subtracted from the units you import, and you are billed on the net. From January 2026 the Kerala regulator (KSERC) tightened the rules: full net metering is generally offered up to about 3 kW (a little higher with battery storage), while larger domestic systems move toward net billing, where exported energy is credited at a feed-in tariff rather than one-for-one against your slab rate. Because KSEB tariffs are telescopic, the value of self-consumed solar is higher than exported solar, so sizing the system to match your daytime load matters more than in a pure net-metering state.

• Single DISCOM statewide: KSEB, with the Soura rooftop programme.
• Net metering for smaller domestic systems; net billing / feed-in credit for larger ones.
• Representative domestic tariff used here is around 7 rupees per unit; your slab may be lower or higher.

Sunshine and the monsoon reality

Kerala gets strong sun for much of the year, but it is also one of India's wettest states. During the June to September south-west monsoon and the October to November spell, generation can fall sharply for weeks. We use a conservative yield of about 4.1 units per kW per day as an annual average, which already accounts for those cloudy months. Judge your system on the full-year figure, not on a bright December afternoon. Compare scenarios with our solar savings calculator and on-grid solar calculator.

PM Surya Ghar subsidy

The national PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana pays 30,000 rupees per kW for the first 2 kW, adds 18,000 for the third kW, and caps at 78,000 rupees for systems of 3 kW and above (allowed up to 10 kW). The subsidy is paid as a direct bank transfer after commissioning and inspection, and collateral-free loans at roughly 7 percent are available. Kerala does not currently add a confirmed state top-up beyond this, so treat any extra-subsidy claims with caution. Size the system with our system size calculator and check repayments on the solar loan EMI calculator.

A quick worked example

Take a 3 kW system in Kochi. At about 4.1 units per kW per day it generates roughly 12.3 units daily, near 370 units a month averaged over the year. Offsetting units worth about 7 rupees each, that is near 2,590 rupees of value a month before monsoon dips and export haircuts. After the 78,000 rupee subsidy the net cost typically pays back in a handful of years. Explore batteries with the battery bank calculator or start from the India solar calculator.

Solar calculators for other Indian states & UTs

Pick your state or union territory for localized subsidy, tariff and net-metering figures — or open the full India states directory or the national India solar calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, but with limits. Full net metering is generally available for smaller domestic systems, while larger rooftops move to net billing where exports are paid at a feed-in tariff. Confirm the current threshold with KSEB before you finalise a size.

Soura is KSEB's own rooftop solar programme. You can install and own the system yourself under the CAPEX model and claim the PM Surya Ghar subsidy, or let a developer own it on your roof under a RESCO arrangement.

Only the national PM Surya Ghar amount is confirmed: 30,000 per kW up to 2 kW, plus 18,000 for the third kW, capped at 78,000 rupees for 3 kW and above, paid by bank transfer after commissioning. No separate Kerala top-up is confirmed at present.

Generation does drop during the June to September rains and cloudy spells, which is why we use a conservative full-year yield of about 4.1 units per kW per day. Over a whole year the numbers still stack up; just plan around the annual average, not peak sunny days.