Off-Grid Solar System for Home in India — Cost, Setup & When It Makes Sense
Complete guide to off-grid solar systems in India. When to choose off-grid vs grid-tied, system sizing, battery requirements, cost for 1kW–5kW and top brands for rural India.
Off-Grid Solar Systems in India — Complete Guide
Off-grid solar is ideal for rural India, remote locations, or areas with unreliable grid supply. Unlike grid-tied systems, off-grid systems store all energy in batteries and work independently of the electricity grid.
Off-Grid vs Grid-Tied vs Hybrid
Type
Works Without Grid
Battery Needed
Net Metering
Best For
Off-Grid
Yes
Yes (large)
No
Remote/rural areas
Grid-Tied
No
No
Yes
Urban areas, stable grid
Hybrid
Yes
Yes (smaller)
Yes
Urban with power cuts
Off-Grid System Cost in India
System Size
Battery Storage
Total Cost
Best For
500W
100Ah (1.2 kWh)
₹35,000–₹55,000
Basic lighting + fans
1 kW
150Ah (1.8 kWh)
₹60,000–₹90,000
Small rural home
2 kW
200Ah (2.4 kWh)
₹1,10,000–₹1,60,000
Medium home
3 kW
400Ah (4.8 kWh)
₹1,80,000–₹2,60,000
Large home with AC
Sizing Your Off-Grid System
Calculate daily load: List all appliances × hours used
Add 20% buffer for losses and cloudy days
Battery sizing: Store at least 2 days of consumption
Panel sizing: Must charge batteries + meet daytime load
Government Support for Off-Grid Solar
MNRE off-grid program: 30–90% subsidy for BPL households
PM-KUSUM for farmers: Solar pumps with 60–70% subsidy
State-specific schemes for rural electrification
Best Off-Grid Solar Brands in India
Luminous: Most popular for rural India — excellent dealer network
Su-Kam: Pioneer in off-grid, strong presence in North India
UTL Solar: Good budget option, pan-India presence
Microtek: Affordable with good inverter range
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