By Avilash Roul
India is inching towards renewable energy targets faster than any other country. To comply with the Paris Climate Agreement by increasing the renewable energy share, meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, and amid political populism around free electricity, India has been aggressively installing rooftop solar (RTS) systems. Although India installs more than 2.5 lakh rooftop solar systems monthly, it does not adequately account for climate emergencies such as tropical cyclones. Can current RTS systems withstand intense, violent winds?
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, India aims to provide solar electricity to 1 crore households by March 2027. It is heartening to see India’s progress in harnessing abundant solar energy and leading the global green energy transition through RTS. As of October 23, 2026, 53,65,331 RTS systems have been installed, totalling 18.7 gigawatts (GW) of capacity and benefiting 63,52,657 households. India aims to install 874 GW of generation capacity by 2031-32.
So far, Odisha has installed 2,58,851 RTS systems, added 569.1 MW of capacity, and benefited 257,641 households, progressing at a rate of 16,000 RTS installations per month.
Meanwhile, last month’s deep depression, which affected 11 states, including South Odisha, North Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, could have seriously threatened the installed RTS. Although the depression’s sustained winds (50-60 km/h) were well below the typical minimum solar panel ratings (100 km/h), coverage of the event showed no widespread damage to solar installations. However, RTS systems in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar were damaged during violent thunderstorms in May due to the North-Western Monsoon, locally called ‘Kala Baisakhi’. Pre-monsoon storms across India in May cracked and shattered RTS panels, damaged frames, and displaced modules, suggesting poor material quality and weak mounting practices. As a result, vendors lost credibility and faced direct financial burdens for replacements. Another deep depression is forming in the Bay of Bengal as of this writing. Is there a standard operating procedure (SOP) to address tropical cyclones or Kala Baisakhi for RTS systems?
Many RTS vendors believe that no SOP exists for climate change-induced extreme weather anomalies, especially tropical cyclones. In general, vendors say RTS can withstand wind speeds up to 100 km/h. Neither the PM Surya Ghar nor the state distribution companies have adequately formulated protocols to protect RTS installations during disasters, at least in nearly 100 districts of India that are prone to tropical cyclones. The existing SOPs are formulated solely with RTS system implementation in mind. Even the operational guidelines (2024) for capacity building for the 3 lakhs RTS installers under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) do not explicitly address RTS protection or safety during tropical cyclones.
West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar, and Gujarat are highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), among 100 cyclone-prone districts, 12 are very high, 25 are high, and 48 are moderately prone to cyclones. Does this geographical area not warrant special attention in terms of guidelines for the RTS with regard to cyclones?
Odisha, like other vulnerable coastal states, can model how to ensure the safety and protection of RTS systems. With its ambitious target in the ‘Sapath Patra’, or Letter of Commitment (2024), to achieve 7.5 GW of solar energy by 2030, Odisha must not delay addressing concerns about RTS installations in districts within basic wind speed zones up to 198 km/h.
Beyond these structural aspects, non-structural measures can protect RTS, especially solar panels, during disaster cycles. Insurance for solar panels is being considered to benefit consumers, but awareness remains very low.
However, during a cyclone or severe thunderstorm (Kala Baisakhi), damaged solar panels or flying debris from them may pose a serious risk of trauma and death. Additionally, damaged solar panels may significantly add to electronic waste (e-waste). By 2060, the world is expected to generate up to 402 million tonnes of photovoltaic (PV) waste from discarded or damaged solar panels.
To avoid these risks, it is highly recommended to dismantle the solar panels before the cyclone and reinstall them thereafter. Can Surya Mitra, RTS installers under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, be tasked with this?
Distribution companies (DISCOMs), RTS vendors, and local ‘apada mitras’ (volunteers) can be roped in to plan these swift activities and integrate RTS systems into infrastructure restoration and recovery under the District Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs). Since the 2024-25 implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Scheme, hardly any DDMP mentions integrating RTS into restoration and recovery measures. With the exact GPS locations of RTS systems from wards to villages, and from rural to urban areas, it is possible to dismantle solar panels in a timely manner. Identify a local group of Surya Mitras or volunteers and provide training to strengthen their skills in dismantling and installing solar panels. With financial support, connect these volunteers to the grid with DISCOMs under the District Collector’s supervision.
The writer is an international advisor on climate change risks and transboundary rivers.
