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Lucknow rooftop solar shift turns consumers into prosumers, reworking the power equation
Lucknow now generates about 328 MW of its ~1,500 MW demand from rooftop solar, according to NEDA. Over 92,000 rooftop systems have been installed under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with installations rising from just over 8,000 to more than 81,000 in two years. The city is moving toward a model where homes act as decentralised energy nodes, and rural users under PM KUSUM also participate through solar-powered irrigation pumps, supported by more than 1.29 lakh applications.
Why It Matters
The shift decouples energy use from a single grid source, reducing peak load and outages and enabling a more flexible, decentralized energy system.
Timeline
5 Events
PM KUSUM rural spillover: over 1,800 farmers use solar irrigation pumps; 1.29 lakh+ applications filed
May 1, 2026
Under PM KUSUM, more than 1,800 farmers in Lucknow district are using solar-powered irrigation pumps. Ravi Agarwal of LESA notes more than 1.29 lakh applications have been filed, indicating broad expansion beyond urban rooftops.
Rooftop solar installations jump from ~8,000 to >81,000 in two years
May 1, 2026
The number of rooftop solar installations in Lucknow increased from just over 8,000 to more than 81,000 within about two years, signaling a significant public mindset shift toward solar energy.
Prosumers redefine Lucknow’s energy model
May 1, 2026
Officials describe households as prosumers capable of generating, consuming, and exporting surplus energy, marking a shift from one-way grid flow to a more interactive energy model.
Rooftop installations under PM Surya Ghar scheme surpass 92,000
May 1, 2026
The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency says more than 92,000 rooftop solar systems have been installed under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
Lucknow’s rooftop solar accounts for about 328 MW of demand (roughly 1,500 MW total) as rooftop capacity grows
May 1, 2026
NEDA reports that rooftop solar now accounts for about 328 MW of Lucknow’s electricity demand, roughly one-fifth of the city’s estimated 1,500 MW load.