From Smart City To Green City: Pune Makes A Solar Friendship Pact
From Smart City to Green City: Pune Makes a Solar Friendship Pact
Pune, September 28, 2025: Pune, long known for its “Smart City” vision, is now making rapid strides toward becoming a true “Green City.” By reducing dependence on conventional electricity and harnessing rooftop solar energy, thousands of households have joined hands with the sun to generate clean, sustainable, and cost-free power.
The Prime Minister Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme has received overwhelming response in Pune, with 18,694 households installing rooftop solar panels. These projects have collectively generated 90.62 MW of electricity, while residents have also benefited from subsidies worth ₹151 crore. For many families, monthly power bills have dropped to zero, with surplus energy being sold back to the grid for additional income.
Solar Growth in Pune Region
- Total registrations: 31,649
- Projects commissioned: 18,694
- Projects in final stage: 7,397
Zone-wise Capacity:
- Ganeshkhind: 7,312 projects, 38.21 MW (₹62.4 crore subsidy)
- Pune Rural: 5,146 projects, 21.07 MW (₹36.4 crore subsidy)
- Rasta Peth: 6,236 projects, 31.34 MW (₹52.58 crore subsidy)
Environmental Benefits
With 90.62 MW of installed capacity, Pune’s solar rooftops are expected to generate nearly 1.3 crore units of electricity annually, preventing 70,000–75,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year—equivalent to planting 3.5 lakh trees. This transition is helping reduce the city’s reliance on air conditioning and industrial energy consumption, while also improving air quality.
Scheme Highlights
- Subsidy of ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW, and ₹78,000 for 3 kW projects.
- For housing societies, subsidy of ₹18,000 per kW up to 500 kW.
- Easy loans up to 90% via the “Jan Samarth” portal at low interest rates.
- Online processing by MSEDCL, free meters, and timely subsidy disbursal.
Encouraging more citizens to participate, Sunil Kakade, Chief Engineer, MSEDCL Pune Circle, said:
“Punekars have understood the importance of the Surya Ghar scheme. We appeal to more households to adopt solar power, reduce bills, and contribute to a greener future.”
Towards a Green Revolution
From individual homes to large housing societies, rooftop solar projects are not just reducing bills but also instilling confidence in renewable energy. Pune has set a benchmark in environmental conservation, energy independence, and economic savings—leading the way toward a smarter, greener tomorrow.
