India’s Solar Rooftop Additions Jump 125% Annually in Q1 of 2026
Visual Credits: Canva
India added 2.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first quarter of 2026, jumping a 125 per cent year-on-year growth, according to a report released by Mercom India. It said that the surge in installations was largely driven by the PM Surya Ghar program, supported by subsidy-backed systems, simplified approval processes and stronger state-level implementation support.
The residential segment accounted for 82% of total rooftop solar installations during the quarter, while the industrial, commercial and government segments contributed 11%, 7% and 0.4%, respectively.
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat emerged as the leading states for rooftop solar installations during the quarter, contributing 17%, 16% and 15% of total additions, respectively.
The report noted that rooftop solar accounted for 18% of India’s total solar installations during Q1 2026. India’s cumulative rooftop solar capacity reached 23.5 GW as of March 2026, with Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh continuing to lead overall installations.
Kerala Shifting Towards Solar-Plus-Storage as Rooftop Market Preference
Kerala’s residential rooftop solar market is witnessing a strong demand for solar-plus-storage systems over the past year, Mercom India reported. Earlier, consumers chose grid-connected rooftop solar systems, but now they are keen on adding battery storage, the outlet said, adding that installers say that consumers are exploring hybrid systems to understand whether storage can help them meet their backup needs amid rising whole power demand. Apprehensions of fuel supply disruptions because of war in West Asia are also influencing household energy decisions.
Meanwhile The Hindu reported the state’s announcement of its Vision 2031 roadmap, which aims to tap the State’s potential in wind and solar power. Large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are planned to address peak load issues, according to it,
The government proposes to roll out an ‘Energy transition and efficiency programme’ for promoting the switch to renewables. ‘Energy credit’ for buildings and houses that regulate energy use and deployment of energy storage systems including ‘distribution transformer-level community battery storage’ to handle the rapid escalation in solar power injection into the grid from rooftop solar (RTS) systems are among the proposals for the power sector.
Kerala is yet to deploy energy storage systems to fully benefit from it. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) continues to depend on pricey power purchases to fill the deficit in peak-hour demand, the outlet explained.
China’s Solar Exports to African and South-east Asian Countries in April have Jumped 83% and 75% year-on-year, Respectively.
Export of Chinese solar cells and panels continued to surge in April as demand for solar installations in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe soars amid the oil and gas crisis.
Exports to Southeast Asia and Africa were up by 75-85% compared to April 2025, according to official Chinese customs data carried by Reuters.
China's exports of solar cells and panels to Africa surged by 83% in April from a year earlier, with South African purchases up by over 81%, and the Democratic Republic of Congo also emerging as a key buyer, according to the customs data.
Exports to Southeast Asia jumped by 75% year over year in April, with the Philippines more than doubling the volume of its solar equipment imports from China.
China's solar exports hit a record-high of 68 gigawatts (GW) in March, double the February export volumes, due to the spike in energy prices and an additional boost from changes to Chinese tax rebates, data analyzed by Ember showed last month.
The value of the solar PV technology exports soared to $4.8 billion in March, more than doubled compared to $2.2 billion in solar export value in February.
Overall, Chinese exports of clean technology, including solar panels, electric vehicles, and batteries, surged to a record-high in March as the war in the Middle East resulted in a major oil and gas supply shock that drove consumers and governments to lean more on renewable energy and EVs.