MERCOM INDIA ROOFTOP SOLAR MARKET REPORT Q1 2026 – 2.7 GW INSTALLED IN Q1 2026
India added 2.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 compared to 2.2 GW in Q4 2025 and 1.2 GW in Q1 2025, according to Mercom India Research’s newly released Q1 2026 India Rooftop Solar Market Report.
The residential segment accounted for 82% of total rooftop solar installations during Q1 2026. The industrial, commercial, and government segments contributed 11%, 7%, and 0.4% of the quarterly additions, respectively.
Installations under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model accounted for 81% of the quarter’s additions, and capacity additions under the operational expenditure or renewable energy service company (OPEX/RESCO) model represented approximately 19% of installations.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh led rooftop solar capacity additions in 2025, accounting for 16%, nearly 16%, and 15%, respectively.
Rooftop solar tenders totalling 482 MW were issued in Q1 2026, a decline of over 38% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) while increasing nearly 32% year-over-year (YoY). In Q1 2026, 269 MW of rooftop solar capacity was auctioned, a 67% decline compared to Q4 2025.
In Q1 2026, rooftop solar accounted for 18% of the country’s total solar installations.
Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh continued to lead cumulative installed rooftop solar capacity, accounting for 24%, 16%, and 9% of installations, respectively.
In Q1 2026, the average cost of rooftop solar systems remained relatively stable across most module technologies, while systems using Chinese modules recorded a noticeable increase in pricing.
India’s cumulative rooftop solar installations reached 23.5 GW at the end of March 2026.
The top 10 states accounted for 80% of cumulative rooftop solar installations as of March 2026.
Between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, Assam recorded the highest compounded quarterly growth rate at 40%, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, with growth rates of 22% and 18%, respectively.
A comprehensive analysis of net metering policies across all Indian states and Union Territories is also included in the report.
Key Highlights from the Q1 2026 Mercom India Rooftop Solar Market Report
- India added 2.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity in Q1 2026
- 82% of the installations during the quarter came from the residential segment
- Cumulative rooftop solar installations reached 23.5 GW at the end of Q1 2026
- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat led solar capacity additions during the quarter
- Rooftop solar accounted for 18% of India’s total solar installations during Q1 2026
Contact Mercom for pricing: reports@mercomindia.com or call us at +91-080-41211148.
MERCOM INDIA RESEARCH
Mercom India Research is a leading research and consulting firm at the forefront of India’s clean energy transformation delivering timely, relevant market intelligence and advisory for India’s energy markets.
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