Gandhinagar, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : Gujarat’s administration is set to install rooftop solar systems on 15,000 government buildings during the 2026-27 period. This initiative is expected to increase the state’s existing rooftop solar capacity by approximately 65 megawatts, bringing the total capacity to over 160 megawatts.
The announcement comes after 6,014 government buildings in Gujarat had grid-connected rooftop solar systems installed by March this year, with a total capacity of 95 megawatts.
Since 2011-12, the Gujarat Energy Development Agency has implemented this program under the Climate Change Department, aiming to promote renewable energy use and reduce government spending on traditional electricity.
Climate Change Minister Arjun Modhwadia noted that during 2025-26, rooftop solar systems were installed on 1,377 government buildings, adding 17.1 megawatts of renewable energy capacity. With this expansion, the total number of government buildings equipped with rooftop solar systems is expected to reach 6,014 by March 2026, contributing to a total installed capacity of 95 megawatts.
For the 2026-27 program, the state has allocated ₹314 crore, with ₹278 crore designated for general government buildings, ₹3 crore for buildings under the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, and ₹33 crore for those managed by the Tribal Development Department.
Modhwadia emphasized that this year’s expansion is the largest, with plans to install systems on 15,000 government buildings, which is anticipated to add about 65 megawatts of solar capacity. This will further strengthen the use of renewable energy in the state’s public infrastructure.
Under this scheme, rooftop solar systems are being installed on buildings under the state’s jurisdiction, with 100% capital-cost support provided from the Climate Change Department’s annual budget allocation.
The government expects these installations to reduce electricity consumption and costs in government offices, while also decreasing pollution from traditional power generation.
State Minister for Climate Change Praveen Mali highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of solar installations, including reduced consumption of traditional electricity, lower electricity expenses for government offices, and diminished pollution from conventional power sources.
Additionally, the state has launched a Renewable Energy Monitoring System based on the Industrial Internet of Things to remotely monitor renewable energy installations on government buildings.
Modhwadia explained that this robust monitoring infrastructure connects smart meters, sensors, and IoT gateways through GPRS, 4G, and Ethernet. It provides automated remote alerts and records performance data every 15 minutes, yielding 96 readings daily. Currently, the interface monitors significant capacities, including 142.5 megawatts from solar and 68.3 megawatts from wind power generation.
The government stated that this monitoring system aims to provide regular performance data from renewable energy installations and facilitate remote alerts for operational issues.
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Gujarat’s renewable energy capacity stands at 47,178 megawatts, making it the leading state in the country for renewable energy capacity, surpassing Rajasthan. A significant portion of this capacity comes from solar and wind power.
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