Question 1

What does SolarRoute actually give me?

Accepted Answer

A free solar plan for your home: a recommended system size, the price range you should expect, the subsidy you are likely to get, and your estimated monthly savings and payback period — written in plain English.

Question 2

What information do I need to fill in?

Accepted Answer

Your location, your average monthly electricity bill (or units used), and rough details about your roof such as usable area and shading. That is enough for a realistic first estimate.

Question 3

Do I need an account?

Accepted Answer

No. You can see your full plan without signing up. Creating an account only lets you save plans and open them again later.

Question 4

Will someone call me after I use it?

Accepted Answer

No. We are not a lead-generation service. We do not pass your details to installers and we do not sell them.

Question 5

How much does a rooftop solar system cost in India?

Accepted Answer

Cost is usually quoted per kilowatt and depends on system size, equipment quality and your city. Smaller systems cost more per kilowatt than larger ones. Your plan shows a fair range for your size rather than a single number, so you can tell whether a quote is reasonable.

Question 6

What subsidy can I get?

Accepted Answer

Residential rooftop systems can qualify for the central PM Surya Ghar subsidy, and some states and union territories add their own support on top. Your plan shows the amount you are likely to qualify for at your recommended size, with the official source and the date we last checked it.

Question 7

Is the subsidy figure guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No. Scheme rules, budgets and state add-ons change. Treat our figure as an informed estimate and confirm the current position on the official national portal and with your electricity distribution company before you commit.

Question 8

Who is eligible?

Accepted Answer

Broadly, residential consumers with their own roof, a valid electricity connection in their name and the ability to install a grid-connected system. Exact conditions vary by state and distribution company.

Question 9

How are savings calculated?

Accepted Answer

We estimate how many units your system will generate over a year using long-term sunlight data for your area, then value those units against your current tariff and usage pattern. We use conservative assumptions rather than best-case ones.

Question 10

What payback period is normal?

Accepted Answer

For most Indian homes with a reasonable bill, a correctly sized system pays for itself in roughly four to seven years after subsidy. Panels typically keep producing well beyond that.

Question 11

Why is my estimate different from an installer's?

Accepted Answer

Installers often assume higher generation, an ideal roof or a larger system. If a quote promises much more than your plan, ask which assumption differs — that single question usually explains the gap.

Question 12

How much roof space do I need?

Accepted Answer

As a rough guide, about 80 to 100 square feet of shadow-free area per kilowatt. Your plan checks the size it recommends against the usable area you entered.

Question 13

Does shading matter?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a lot. A water tank, parapet wall or neighbouring building can cut output noticeably. Tell the tool honestly how shaded your roof is so the estimate stays realistic.

Question 14

What happens on cloudy days or at night?

Accepted Answer

A grid-connected system without batteries simply draws from the grid when the sun is not available. Net metering means surplus daytime generation is credited against what you draw later.

Question 15

Do I need batteries?

Accepted Answer

Usually not for savings alone. Batteries mainly help with power cuts and add a lot of cost. Most homeowners start grid-connected and add storage only if outages are a real problem.

Question 16

Do you install solar?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not install, survey roofs, file subsidy applications, or handle payments. We help you decide what makes sense before you approach anyone.

Question 17

Can vendors pay to rank higher?

Accepted Answer

No. Our vendor directory is informational and unpaid. Nobody can buy a position or a verified label.

Question 18

What do you do with my data?

Accepted Answer

We use it to produce your plan and, if you sign in, to save it for you. We do not sell it or share it with installers. See our privacy page for details, including how to request deletion.

Rooftop solar questions, answered plainly

Getting started

Cost and subsidy

Savings and payback

Roof and equipment

About SolarRoute

Still unsure what size suits your home?