Solar Basics
06 questionsWhat rooftop solar is, how it works, and whether it makes sense for you.
A rooftop solar system converts sunlight into usable electricity for your home or business. The main components are solar panels (with PV cells), an inverter (DC → AC), a mounting structure, AC/DC cables, combiner boxes, earthing, and MC4 connectors. When sunlight hits the panels, the photovoltaic effect generates DC current, which the inverter converts into AC for everyday use.
There are three main types — On-grid systems are tied to the public electricity grid; excess power is exported and you earn credits under net metering. Off-grid systems use battery storage and aren't connected to the grid — best for remote sites without a reliable supply. Hybrid systems combine solar, battery, and the grid — daytime generation, evening battery backup, and grid as final fallback.
If you're dealing with high electricity bills, solar is the most effective way to bring them down permanently. Beyond savings, solar reduces your dependence on the grid (and DISCOM tariff hikes), increases your property value, and meaningfully cuts your carbon footprint — a single 1 kW system avoids roughly one tonne of CO₂ every year for the next 25 years.
Yes. The electricity produced by a solar system is identical to the power you get from your DISCOM — only the source is different. It's one of the safest forms of generation, with no fuel, no combustion, and no toxic emissions. Properly installed systems include earthing, surge protection, and automatic shutdown during a grid outage to protect line workers.
Yes — panels still produce electricity on cloudy or rainy days, just at reduced efficiency (typically 10–25% of peak). Annual generation estimates already account for these losses, so your payback math doesn't change. Winter often produces more per panel than peak summer because cooler temperatures actually improve PV efficiency.
A standard on-grid system shuts off during a blackout for safety — to protect the engineers repairing the grid. If you want backup during outages, you'll need a hybrid system with a battery, which we can design for you.
Cost & Savings
06 questionsPricing, payback, and how much you can realistically save.
For residential projects across India, expect roughly ₹55,000–₹70,000 per kW before subsidy, depending on panel/inverter brand and mounting complexity. A typical 3 kW household system lands around ₹1.8–2.1 lakh before the ₹78,000 central subsidy, bringing your net cost to roughly ₹1.0–1.3 lakh. Commercial pricing is lower per kW at scale.
Most of our home customers cut their electricity bills by 80–95% from day one. A ₹3,000/month bill typically falls below ₹500. And because grid tariffs across Indian states have historically risen 3–5% annually, your effective savings compound every year.
Most residential systems pay back in 3–5 years; commercial systems with accelerated depreciation typically pay back in 2–4 years. After that, you enjoy 20+ years of nearly free electricity from a 25-year asset.
We've found solar works out economically for homes with bills starting around ₹1,500/month. Below that, the system size is too small to outpace fixed interconnection charges. Commercial users benefit at almost any scale because of accelerated depreciation and high industrial tariffs.
With Garv, no — our quote is end-to-end: panels, inverter, mounting, cabling, earthing, net metering paperwork, DISCOM coordination, and commissioning. The only ongoing cost is panel cleaning (which you can do yourself with water and a soft cloth) and an optional AMC after the free warranty period.
They'll only make solar more valuable. Every tariff hike from your DISCOM increases the gap between what you'd have paid and what you actually pay — so your real savings grow each year until the system is paid off, and then accelerate further.
Subsidy & Financing
05 questionsPM Surya Ghar, EMI options, and how the money flows.
Under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the central government provides up to ₹78,000 for residential rooftop solar — ₹30,000 for the first kW, ₹60,000 for 2 kW, and ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW or more. Residents across all Indian states qualify for the central subsidy directly through the national portal — many states layer an additional top-up on top of the central amount.
We handle the entire process for you — registration on the National Portal, DISCOM application, inspection coordination, and post-installation subsidy disbursement (typically within 30 days of commissioning). The subsidy is credited directly to your bank account. You don't fill a single government form.
No central subsidy applies to commercial or industrial installations. However, commercial customers can claim 40% accelerated depreciation in year 1 under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, plus GST input tax credit on the system cost — usually a bigger financial benefit than the residential subsidy.
No. We partner with banks and NBFCs for collateral-free solar loans with 0% EMI options for 6 months and longer-term tenors up to 5 years. In many cases, your monthly savings cover the EMI from month one — meaning you go solar with effectively zero net cash outflow.
Three main options. CAPEX — you own the system, claim depreciation and ITC, and keep all the savings. OPEX / PPA / RESCO — a developer owns the system on your roof and you simply buy electricity from them at a fixed rate (typically ₹4–6/unit vs the grid's ₹9–14/unit) for 15–25 years, with zero capex. Hybrid leasing — split ownership with a structured buyout at year 5–7. We help you model all three.
Installation & Site
06 questionsWhat we check, how long it takes, and what your roof can handle.
Once your 3D design is approved, the physical installation is typically completed in 1–2 days for a residential system, and 1–4 weeks for larger commercial sites. DISCOM net-meter installation and commissioning add 2–4 weeks on top, depending on local inspection availability.
Just a shadow-free roof area and rooftop access. For a 1 kW system, you'll need approximately 80–100 sq ft of usable area. We handle everything else — site survey, design, structural check, paperwork, installation, and approvals.
Don't guess — book a free site visit. Our engineer uses drone or laser-based shadow analysis to map every metre of usable area, factors in winter sun angles, and gives you a personalised 3D design showing exactly how the system will sit on your roof.
Yes. We've installed on RCC, metal sheet, Mangalore-tile, and even asbestos roofs. For asbestos or compromised roofs, we typically recommend replacing with GI sheets as part of the project — you get a safer roof and a stronger mounting base. We use non-penetrating ballasted mounts wherever feasible to preserve waterproofing.
No. We use chemically anchored mounts on RCC and bracket-clamp mounts on metal, both with engineered waterproofing at every penetration point. Our structures are designed for wind speeds up to 170 kmph (relevant for India's high-wind coastal, desert and plateau zones) and come with a written warranty.
Our designs are built for it. We use Tier-1 panels with anti-soiling coating, high-temp-rated inverters (50°C+ ambient), galvanised mounting structures rated for cyclone-zone winds, and a 15° tilt to encourage dust self-cleaning during the monsoon. Generation estimates are de-rated for your local summer and rainy-season profile so your savings projections stay realistic whether you're in Chennai, Jaipur or Guwahati.
Panels & Equipment
05 questionsWhat goes on your roof — and how to tell the good from the cheap.
Tier-1 monocrystalline PERC and TOPCon modules from MNRE-approved manufacturers (Waaree, Vikram, Adani, Premier, Jinko). For residential we typically install 540–580 W modules; for commercial, 580–620 W bifacial modules where rooftop conditions allow. Every panel is BIS-certified and ALMM -listed.
A string inverter is cost-effective and the right choice for most rooftops with unobstructed sun. Microinverters / power optimisers shine when your roof has partial shading, multiple orientations, or you want per-panel monitoring — they cost more but harvest 5–25% more annual energy in shaded conditions. We'll recommend based on your actual roof, not a sales target.
Standard: 12-year product and 25-year linear performance warranty on panels (≥85% output at year 25), 5–10 year warranty on inverters, and a 10-year warranty on mounting structures. We also offer an extended AMC covering everything for years 6–10.
We share serial numbers, IEC certificates, and ALMM listing for every panel and inverter delivered to your site, plus a stamped material check at unboxing. You can verify each panel directly with the manufacturer using its serial number — we encourage it.
25 years or more for the panels themselves. Inverters typically last 10–15 years and may need one replacement at the midpoint. Mounting structures are designed to outlast the panels. With professional maintenance, expect 20+ years of steady, high savings.
Net Metering & DISCOM
04 questionsHow exported units get credited, and what to expect from your DISCOM.
Net metering is the billing arrangement that lets you export surplus solar power to the grid and receive credit on your bill. A bidirectional meter records both imported (from grid) and exported (to grid) units. At month-end you're billed only on the net consumption — if you exported more than you imported, units are carried forward to the next month.
Net metering credits exported units at the retail tariff (best for consumers). Net billing credits at a lower wholesale rate. Gross metering sells all your solar power to the DISCOM at a fixed feed-in tariff while you continue buying at retail. Most Indian states currently allow net metering for residential systems up to 500 kW; policy limits vary by state.
After your solar installation is complete, we file the application with your local DISCOM (JVVNL, BSES, MSEDCL, TANGEDCO, BESCOM, TSSPDCL — whichever serves your address). The DISCOM inspects the system, replaces your existing meter with a bidirectional one, and issues commissioning approval. Typically 2–4 weeks across most Indian DISCOMs; we manage every follow-up.
Excess units roll over month to month for the financial year. At year-end (March 31), most DISCOMs settle unused credits at the average pooled cost of power (typically ₹2–3/unit) — much less than the retail rate, so the goal is to size your system to match annual consumption, not vastly exceed it. We'll model this for you during design.
Maintenance & Monitoring
05 questionsKeeping your system at peak performance — for 25 years.
In most Indian climates we recommend cleaning twice a month in summer and after dust storms or pollution events. Cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur may need additional cleaning during high-AQI weeks. Use a soft nylon brush or sponge with plain water — never metal brushes, detergents, or pressure washers (they can damage the anti-reflective coating). Clean early morning or evening when panels are cool.
We offer a free 5-year AMC* on every system we install. It includes quarterly panel cleaning, monthly remote performance audits, all preventive maintenance, IV-curve testing, connection torque-checks, and component replacement under warranty. Extended AMC options cover years 6–25. (*Conditions apply — full AMC terms shared with your quote.)
Every system ships with a Wi-Fi-enabled inverter and our mobile app (iOS + Android). You see real-time generation, daily/monthly/yearly totals, savings in ₹, CO₂ avoided, and any fault alerts. We monitor the same data on our end and proactively dispatch a technician if anything looks off — usually before you even notice.
Yes — but slowly. Tier-1 panels degrade at roughly 0.4–0.5% per year, meaning you're still at ≥85% of rated output at year 25 (covered by the linear performance warranty). Compare with cheap panels that lose 1%+ per year and underperform within a decade.
File a single complaint via the app or call us — we coordinate the manufacturer's warranty claim, source the replacement, and install it free of charge during the warranty period (and at cost-plus afterwards). Our average on-site response time is under 48 hours in metros and 72 hours nationwide.
About Garv Urja
05 questionsWhy choose us, and what makes Garv different.
We're an owner-led EPC, not a faceless reseller. Our engineers understand the wind, dust and DISCOM processes of every region we install in; our crews show up when promised; and you deal with the same project manager from quote to year-25 service. We're MNRE-registered, work across India, and put a written savings projection on every quote.
Yes. Garv Urja Solutions is registered with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and is a DISCOM-empanelled vendor for residential rooftop solar across multiple Indian states. We're authorised to file net-metering and PM Surya Ghar applications on your behalf.
Yes — survey, 3D design, structural check, financing assistance, subsidy paperwork, supply, installation, commissioning, net-metering, monitoring, and 5-year AMC*. You have one point of contact and one accountable team. No middlemen, no surprise charges. (*AMC subject to terms.)
We're headquartered in Alwar, Rajasthan and serve homes and businesses across India. We have on-the-ground project teams covering most major Indian metros and tier-2 cities, and we travel nationwide for commercial projects above 100 kW. Share your pincode on the contact form and we'll confirm coverage for your specific location.
Share your latest electricity bill and rooftop photos via WhatsApp (+91-8810405990) or our contact form. We'll send a preliminary savings estimate within 24 hours, followed by a free on-site visit and a personalised 3D design. No obligations.
Still stuck?
Talk to a real person.
Some questions need a roof to look at. Send us photos and your latest bill; we'll come back with a preliminary savings number within 24 hours — no obligation, no pressure.
Topics we cover by phone
- Bill analysis & system sizing
- Subsidy eligibility check
- Site feasibility from photos
- CAPEX vs OPEX for businesses
- Net metering & DISCOM coordination
- AMC and post-installation support