100kW Solar Panel System Price with Subsidy in India (2025)
6 min read
Thinking about installing a 100 kW solar panel system in 2025? Great choice. A 100 kW plant is the sweet spot for factories, hotels, hospitals, schools/colleges, large offices, warehouses, and high-load commercial buildings. Below is a simple, no-nonsense guide to the price, incentives/subsidy reality, ROI, and a ready-to-use cost breakdown—written to help you make a quick, confident decision.
Quick Summary (TL:DR)
- Indicative price in 2025 (C&I rooftop): ₹35–₹55 lakh before taxes and approvals for a quality 100 kW system (final figure depends on modules/inverters/structure, site complexity, and warranty scope).
- Central subsidy: Not available for commercial & industrial (C&I) systems like 100 kW. MNRE’s national subsidy is for residential households only, under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.
- What you DO get: Accelerated Depreciation @ 40% for businesses + state net-metering benefits (where applicable).
- Typical payback: 3–5 years for most C&I consumers with good daytime consumption and reasonable tariffs.
How Much Does a 100 kW Solar System Cost in 2025?
Market referenced C&I pricing across reputable installers in 2025 generally falls in the ₹35,000–₹40,000/kW band for industrial rooftops, which puts 100 kW around ₹35–₹40 lakh for a standard build. With premium components (n-type TOPCon/HJT modules, string+controller redundancy, heavy-duty wind structures, extended O&M), budgets can reach ₹50–₹55 lakh. Outliers (complex roofs, corrosion-prone sites, high-spec warranties) can be higher.
Note: Older or different estimates sometimes quote ₹60–₹80 lakh for 100 kW depending on scope and era of pricing. Use fresh, apples-to-apples quotes that specify module tech, BOS quality, and service terms.
What About Subsidies for 100 kW?
Here’s the clear picture for 2025:
- Central subsidy (MNRE) under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is for residential households only (up to 3 kW slab benefits). Commercial and industrial consumers are not eligible for the national CFA.
-
Many articles and portals also explicitly state that C&I users are not eligible for the national rooftop subsidy, they instead leverage tax benefits (Accelerated Depreciation) and net metering where available.
So, what benefits can a business still claim?
- Accelerated Depreciation (AD): Businesses can typically claim 40% depreciation on solar assets, improving post-tax returns and shortening payback.
- State/Discom policies: Net-metering/Group net-metering/Behind-the-meter self-consumption—subject to your state’s regulations. (Rules and caps vary by state and consumer category.)
- Heads-up: Residential consumers get slab-based subsidy (e.g., up to ₹78,000 for ≥3 kW), but this is not applicable to a typical 100 kW C&I plant.
A Practical 100 kW Cost Breakdown (Illustrative)
Below is a realistic template for a quality 100 kW rooftop plant. Adjust percentages based on your chosen specs:
Cost Head |
Typical Share |
Notes |
Solar Modules (TOPCon/Mono-PERC) |
55–60% |
Tier-1 or trusted Indian make; glass/glass for coastal/industrial sites. |
Inverters (String/Central) |
12–18% |
String inverters give better MPPT granularity; central for large open roofs. |
Structure & Fasteners |
8–12% |
HDGI or aluminum; wind design as per local IS codes; corrosion class matters. |
Cables, AC/DC Protections, Earthing & LA |
5–8% |
BIS-compliant cables; SPD/MCB/MCCB/DCDB/ACDB; proper earthing grid. |
Design, Engineering & Installation |
6–10% |
Site survey, drawings, execution, safety compliance. |
Permits, Net-metering, Testing |
1–3% |
Utility liaison, CEIG (where applicable). |
O&M (first year) & Monitoring |
1–2% |
SCADA, remote monitoring, PR alarms, cleaning plan. |
Taxes & approvals are extra as per prevailing norms.
Generation and Savings: What to Expect
- Annual generation (100 kW rooftop): 1.4–1.6 lakh kWh/year in many Indian locations, assuming decent PR, minimal shading, and good O&M.
- If grid tariff is ₹8/kWh (illustrative C&I tariff), gross annual savings can be ₹11–₹13 lakh.
- Payback: With ₹35–₹55 lakh capex and Accelerated Depreciation, payback commonly lands around 3–5 years, and sometimes faster for high-tariff consumers.
Actual numbers vary by state irradiation, rooftop orientation, losses, downtime, and tariff slab.
Simple ROI Snapshot (Illustrative)
- System size: 100 kW
- Capex (quality build): ₹45,00,000 (example)
- Annual generation: 1,50,000 kWh
- Tariff offset: ₹8.0/kWh → ₹12,00,000/yr gross savings
- O&M + insurance: ₹1,00,000/yr
- Net savings (pre-tax): ₹11,00,000/yr
- Payback (naïve): 4.1 years (before AD tax impacts)
- With AD (tax shield): Effective payback can improve notably (consult your CA).
Choosing Components That Keep Lifetime Costs Low
-
Module Tech:
-
n-type TOPCon/bifacial (higher efficiency, better low-light, strong for space-constrained roofs).
-
Glass-glass for harsh/coastal/chemical environments.
-
Insist on reliable PAN files, IEC/BIS certifications, and degradation warranties (e.g., ≤1% first year, then ≤0.4–0.5%/year).
-
Inverters:
-
String inverters with multiple MPPTs suit split roofs and reduce mismatch losses.
-
Look for DC/AC SPD, AFCI (arc-fault) features, remote monitoring, and strong service footprint.
-
Keep a spare inverter or plan for quick-swap to minimize downtime.
-
Structures & Wind Design:
-
Verify wind-speed compliance as per local code; request structural calculations.
-
For sheet-metal roofs, use tested penetration/seam clamps, corrosion-resistant fasteners, proper sealing.
-
Cables & Protections:
-
UV-resistant DC cables, proper routing, string fusing where needed.
-
Lightning protection and dedicated earthing—tested and documented.
-
Monitoring & O&M:
-
String-level monitoring helps spot faults quickly.
-
Define cleaning frequency, safety SOPs, replacement SLAs, and spare parts list in the contract.
Net-Metering & Policy Notes
- C&I net-metering/group net-metering rules vary by state and are periodically revised (caps on system size, settlement method, banking rules). Always check your state DISCOM/energy department circulars during the proposal stage.
- Residential schemes (like PM Surya Ghar) are actively promoted—for context only, these offer slabs up to ₹78,000 subsidy for household systems up to 3 kW, sometimes topped up by states (e.g., certain local top-ups announced in 2025). This does not change the non-eligibility of C&I 100 kW plants for national subsidy.
Model BoQ for a 100 kW Rooftop (Illustrative)
- Modules: 160–170 panels @ 600–650 Wp each (adjust to latest Wp bins)
- Inverters: 3–4 string inverters (or a single central with DC combiner, as designed)
- Structure: GI/Aluminum with wind design & anti-corrosion treatment
- Electrical: DC combiner boxes (if used), ACDB, earthing, LA, cables, conduits, tagging
- Monitoring: Data logger/SCADA with web dashboard & mobile app
- Docs & Compliance: SLDs, earthing tests, PR test, handover kit
- Services: Design-engineering, installation, testing-commissioning, liaison
Step-by-Step: From Quote to Commissioning
- Site audit & feasibility: Roof strength, shading, access, cable path, earthing plan.
- Energy study: Load profile, sanctioned load/contract demand, net-metering feasibility.
- Design & proposal: PVSyst/PV*SOL-based yield, component list, warranties, SLAs.
- Order & permits: Utility applications, CEIG (if required), safety clearances.
- Installation: Structure, module mounting, stringing, terminations, earthing, LA.
- Testing & commissioning: IV curves (if planned), protections test, synchronisation.
- Handover & training: Manuals, O&M SOPs, dashboards, emergency procedures.
-
Ongoing O&M: Cleaning, inspections, fault response, periodic reports.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the realistic 2025 price for a 100 kW rooftop system?
₹35–₹55 lakh before taxes for quality C&I builds; final price depends on module tech, inverter topology, structure quality, warranties, and site complexity.
2) Is there any central subsidy for a 100 kW C&I plant?
No. The national subsidy is for residential households (PM Surya Ghar). C&I consumers are not eligible for this CFA.
3) What benefits can businesses claim instead of subsidies?
Accelerated Depreciation (~40%) under the Income-tax Act (consult your CA), plus net-metering and other state-level policy benefits where available.
4) How much energy will a 100 kW system generate?
Typically 1.4–1.6 lakh kWh/year on well-designed rooftops with decent irradiation and maintenance.
5) What is the payback period?
Usually 3–5 years for C&I users with strong daytime consumption and fair tariffs; AD can further improve returns.
6) Which modules should I choose—Mono-PERC or n-type TOPCon/HJT?
If budget allows, n-type TOPCon/HJT offers higher efficiency and better low-light performance; Mono-PERC remains value-for-money. Match selection to space, environment, and ROI goals.
7) String or central inverter?
For split/irregular roofs, string inverters with multiple MPPTs reduce mismatch losses and simplify maintenance.
8) Can I do net-metering for 100 kW?
Subject to your state’s regulations (caps, settlement rules, banking). Always verify with your DISCOM before ordering.
9) What warranties should I demand?
- Product: 10–12 years (modules), 5–10 years (inverters), structure warranty per spec.
- Performance: e.g., 25-year linear power output warranty for modules (check exact terms).
- Service/O&M: Defined response times, spares, and reporting.
10) How do I keep lifetime costs low?
Invest in robust structures, proper earthing & surge protection, and string level monitoring; they prevent expensive failures and lost generation.
Leave a comment