Staff Reporter
Guwahati: Assam has the potential to generate 13,428 megawatts (MW) of electricity and create up to 1.8 lakh green jobs by harnessing rooftop solar energy, according to a new study released by environmental think tank iFOREST. Titled ‘Rooftop Solar Potential in Assam’, the study was launched at a workshop in Guwahati—Sunrise Assam—organized in collaboration with the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).
The report presents Assam’s first district, city, and ward-level analysis of rooftop solar capacity, revealing a technical potential more than ten times higher than the current target of 1,900 MW under the Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2025. With 95% of the potential concentrated in residential and mixed-use buildings, the study highlights rooftop solar energy as a transformative solution for the state’s energy and employment needs.
Guwahati has emerged as a key hotspot, with rooftop solar potential estimated between 625 MW and 984 MW. Areas such as Lokhra, Garbhanga, Sarusajai, Bor Sojai, and Sawkuchi were identified as high-potential solar zones, while wards like Gorchuk, Betkuchi, Jalukbari, Kahilipara, and Machkhowa also show significant capacity. iFOREST estimates that each MW of rooftop solar can generate 14 direct jobs, suggesting that fully tapping the state’s 13,000 MW potential could create nearly 1.8 lakh employment opportunities across manufacturing, installation, and maintenance sectors.
Baishali Talukdar, Deputy Manager of APDCL’s New and Renewable Energy Division, said that under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, Assam has already completed 20,000 solar rooftop installations, contributing around 60 MW of capacity. However, she acknowledged key challenges such as limited consumer awareness, high upfront costs, shortage of skilled technicians, and delays in loan disbursement.
The study also identifies several structural challenges in the sector, including limited financial access for commercial and industrial consumers, regulatory gaps in metering and subsidy systems, and concerns over grid integration and installation quality. To overcome these barriers, iFOREST recommends a combination of policy, financial, and institutional reforms.
Among the key suggestions are targeting high-potential zones like Guwahati’s mixed-use wards and the Barak Valley, launching PM-SGY in mission mode with community engagement, and establishing local manufacturing hubs to meet Assam’s 3 GW solar target. Other recommendations include mandating rooftop solar for new buildings, enabling virtual net metering, promoting inclusive business models such as APDCL’s Utility-Based CAPEX Model, and introducing concessional loans and one-time capital subsidies.
Also Read: State government, APDCL fail to provide regular power supply: All Assam Students’ Union
Also Watch: