India is witnessing a strong rise in Solar Opex (Operating Expense) rooftop installations as MSMEs, factories, commercial buildings, logistics units, and educational institutions increasingly choose zero-investment solar models. The trend accelerated in late 2025 due to rising grid tariffs and more flexible long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Under the Opex model, the installer invests, owns and maintains the solar plant, while the consumer pays only for the electricity generated at a fixed per-unit rate—often much lower than DISCOM tariffs.

Why Opex Solar Is Surging in India

Several factors are driving the adoption spike:

• No upfront investment for businesses
• Predictable long-term tariff savings
• Better quality installations since developers own the asset
• High commercial tariffs making solar PPAs attractive
• Rooftop availability in urban and industrial zones

Businesses are seeing financial benefits immediately, without the need for capital expenditure.

Industries Leading the Opex Growth

• Logistics warehouses (cold storage, fulfilment centers)
• Textile and garment units
• Educational institutions & hospitals
• Shopping malls and commercial complexes
• Manufacturing clusters (Pune, Surat, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad)

Opex is especially attractive in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

Developers Expanding Their Opex Portfolios

Solar developers are aggressively expanding their PPA portfolios due to:

• High demand from industry
• Better financing availability
• Falling solar module prices
• Higher rooftop utilization across India

Some developers are now offering hybrid Opex models with battery backup, providing firmer power supply.

Outlook for 2026

Analysts predict that Solar Opex installations could grow by 35–40% in 2026, making it one of the strongest rooftop categories.

SolSetu will continue monitoring Opex-based solar adoption across industrial and commercial segments.