For an energy-intensive manufacturing unit, electricity is not overhead — it is an input cost that appears in the price of every unit produced. Industrial solar is a way to fix part of that input cost for two decades. It is also a materially more complex project than a rooftop installation.
Capacity bands
- 100–250 kW — small manufacturing units, processing units, cold storage
- 250–500 kW — medium factories, large warehouses, multi-shed facilities
- 500 kW–1 MW — large manufacturing plants, industrial parks, continuous-process units
- 1–2 MW — heavy manufacturing, multi-unit campuses, rooftop combined with ground mount
It starts with consumption analysis
Industrial sizing is driven by the load curve, not by a monthly total. Shift patterns, maximum demand, power factor, seasonal variation and any planned expansion all affect the right capacity. Twelve months of HT or LT billing data is the minimum starting point; interval data is better.
Structural assessment is not optional
Industrial roofs are large, often old, and were rarely designed for an additional distributed load. A proper assessment covers sheet condition and remaining life, purlin spacing and section, load-bearing capacity, wind loading for the location, and how the structure will be anchored without compromising waterproofing. This assessment should happen before the commercial proposal, not after.
Electrical design at industrial scale
Above modest capacities, the project involves HT rather than LT connection, and the design work grows accordingly: single-line diagram, string and inverter configuration, protection coordination, earthing and lightning protection, transformer and switchgear interface, and metering arrangement. Errors here are expensive and, unlike a shading mistake, potentially dangerous.
Approvals
Expect DISCOM technical feasibility approval, capacity limits linked to sanctioned load and transformer capacity, electrical inspectorate clearance where applicable, and — where relevant — state open-access provisions. Timelines vary considerably by state and should be built into the project schedule rather than assumed away.
Execution around production
The constraint that most distinguishes industrial solar is that the plant keeps running. Work has to be sequenced around shifts, shutdown windows and safety requirements, with defined milestones so progress is visible and disruption is bounded.
The incentive position
The residential PM Surya Ghar subsidy does not apply to industrial installations. Depreciation benefits under the Income Tax Act may be available — confirm the current position with your tax advisor. Most industrial projects are justified on energy cost reduction over the plant's operating life, which for an energy-intensive unit is usually sufficient on its own.
When we advise against it
Where the roof is near the end of its life, where shading from adjacent structures is severe, where regulatory caps limit useful capacity, or where the load profile is overwhelmingly nocturnal, an industrial solar project may not be viable at the scale required to matter. Saying so early is more valuable than a proposal that cannot deliver.
This guide is general information, not technical or financial advice for a specific property. Figures are indicative and vary by location, tariff, site conditions and current policy. For a decision, get a site assessment. Talk to RIJARA ENERGY →