Solar Calculator Lakshadweep 2026

Rooftop solar in Lakshadweep: department, net metering and island diesel

Power in Lakshadweep is run by the Lakshadweep Electricity Department, the Department of Electricity for the UT of Lakshadweep, with tariffs regulated by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). Lakshadweep is a special-category island UT whose grid has long depended on diesel generator sets, expensive to fuel and ship across the Arabian Sea, so every solar unit made locally displaces costly diesel. As a special-category UT under MNRE's PM Surya Ghar guidelines, Lakshadweep gets the higher central rate: ₹33,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹19,800 for the third kW, so ₹85,800 for 3 kW and above (the general rate elsewhere is ₹85,800).

Net metering and a storage push

The department offers net metering for rooftop systems, with credits typically settled on a half-yearly basis and any unadjusted surplus paid per the JERC solar tariff order. The UT is actively expanding clean power: recent tenders have sought a couple of megawatts of rooftop solar alongside several megawatt-hours of battery storage to firm up island supply. Because settlement rules and solar tariffs shift with each order, confirm the current terms before committing. Begin with the India solar calculator or the on-grid solar calculator.

Tariffs, sunshine and savings

Consumer tariffs in Lakshadweep are among the lowest in India, roughly ₹3 to ₹3.5 per unit for domestic use, because heavy subsidy shields residents from the true diesel-driven cost of supply. We use about ₹3.5 per unit as a representative rate, so per-unit bill savings look modest even though the economic value of the avoided diesel is high. The islands enjoy strong sunshine, around 4.5 to 4.8 peak sun hours a day, so we assume about 4.2 units per kW daily, near 1,530 units a year per kW. Model it with the solar savings calculator.

Why storage is especially valuable

With a small, diesel-reliant island grid, adding a battery lets a home store midday sun for evening use and cut generator dependence. Weigh the trade-offs with the battery bank calculator and the generator vs battery calculator.

How PM Surya Ghar applies

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana applies in Lakshadweep too: ₹33,000 per kW for the first 2 kW, an extra ₹19,800 for the third kW, capped at ₹85,800 for 3 kW and above, for residential capacity up to 10 kW, paid by Direct Benefit Transfer after commissioning, with collateral-free loans near 7 percent. We keep the state top-up at zero, as no confirmed per-kW island capital grant sits above the central scheme.

Worked example

A 3 kW rooftop system could generate roughly 4,600 units a year. At ₹3.5 per unit that offsets about ₹17,500 on the household bill, while the up-to-₹85,800 central subsidy sharply cuts the upfront price. The real island dividend, though, is displacing diesel and steadying supply. Figures are indicative; confirm the latest tariff and solar policy with the Lakshadweep Electricity Department.

Solar calculators for nearby states & UTs

Compare subsidy, tariff and net-metering figures with the neighbouring states, or see all 36 in the India states directory and the national India solar calculator.

Frequently asked questions

The Lakshadweep Electricity Department, the Department of Electricity for the UT, supplies power and offers net metering for rooftop solar, with tariffs regulated by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). Credits are typically settled half-yearly, so confirm the current terms with the department.

Lakshadweep is a special-category island UT whose grid depends on diesel generator sets that are costly to fuel and ship. Solar generated locally displaces that diesel, and pairing it with a battery helps steady a small island grid. As a special-category UT under MNRE's PM Surya Ghar guidelines, Lakshadweep gets the higher central rate: ₹33,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹19,800 for the third kW, so ₹85,800 for 3 kW and above (the general rate elsewhere is ₹85,800).

Consumer tariffs are among India's lowest, roughly ₹3 to ₹3.5 per unit, because subsidy shields residents from the true diesel cost of supply. So per-unit bill savings look small on paper, even though the economic value of the avoided diesel to the UT is high.

The special-category rate applies: ₹33,000 per kW up to 2 kW, an extra ₹19,800 for the third kW, capped at ₹85,800 for 3 kW and above, up to 10 kW residential, paid by Direct Benefit Transfer after commissioning, with about 7 percent collateral-free loans. We keep the state top-up at zero, as no confirmed per-kW island capital grant sits on top.

About 13 units a day or 4,632 units a year on average, from about 9.9 a day in June to 15.2 a day in February, according to PVGIS data for panels at the best fixed angle. Shading, dust and orientation change the result.