1kW Solar System Price in India (2026)
| System Type | Gross Cost | Subsidy | Net Cost |
|---|
| On-grid | ₹52,200 – ₹63,800 | ₹30,000 | ₹22,200 – ₹33,800 |
| Hybrid (with battery) | ₹64,800 – ₹79,200 | ₹30,000 | ₹34,800 – ₹49,200 |
| Off-grid | ₹76,500 – ₹93,500 | ₹0 | ₹76,500 – ₹93,500 |
State top-ups in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Assam reduce the net cost further; the calculator above applies them
when you pick your state. For a full quote-style breakdown, use the
solar panel cost calculator.
What Can a 1kW Solar System Run?
A 1kW system generates about 3.8 units a day (115 units a month) in a typical Indian city. That
comfortably powers fans, LED lights, a refrigerator, a TV and phone or laptop charging. It is the right size for small homes with monthly bills of ₹700 to ₹1,100 and no air conditioning.
1kW Solar System Quick Specs
- Panels: 2 × 550W modules (fewer with 600 – 620W panels)
- Roof area: 80 – 100 sq. ft. of shadow-free space
- Generation: ~3.8 units/day, ~115 units/month, ~1,402 units/year
- Inverter: 1 kW string or hybrid inverter
- Payback: typically 3 – 6 years after subsidy, then 20+ years of low-cost power
Is 1kW the Right Size for You?
Pick 1kW if your monthly bill sits between ₹700 and ₹1,100 (roughly 100 to 140 units) and no air conditioner is in the picture. It is the smallest size most DISCOMs will net-meter, and after the ₹30,000 subsidy it is the cheapest possible entry into solar. The wrong-fit signs: an AC anywhere in the house, a bill that touches ₹1,500 in summer, or plans for either within two years. In those cases the per-kW premium small systems carry makes 2kW the smarter spend.
Worked Example: A 1kW System in Kochi
A Kochi home installs 1kW on-grid at about ₹58,000 gross. The ₹30,000 central subsidy applies, leaving a net
cost near ₹28,000. At the city's 4.2 peak sun hours the system produces
about 3.4 units a day (101 a month), trimming up to ₹591
off the monthly bill at the local ₹6.5 tariff. Run the calculator above with your own city to see
how these numbers shift with sun hours and state subsidies.
From 1kW Estimate to Installation
- Confirm the size against your usage with the
solar system size calculator; the right kW comes from your
units, not from a page you happened to land on.
- Check the connection. A 1kW system runs happily on any single-phase domestic connection; no sanction changes are normally needed.
- Collect three 1kW quotes and compare them line by line against the
cost calculator's gross range; quotes far below it are cutting
something you will miss later.
- Apply on the national portal before installing, use a registered vendor, and expect the
subsidy by bank transfer a few weeks after inspection.
1kW Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying 1kW when the bill says 2. Small systems cost the most per kW, so under-buying twice (1kW now, 1kW later) costs meaningfully more than 2kW once.
- Expecting it to run an AC. 1kW generates about 3 to 4 units a day; a single evening of AC use consumes all of it. This size is for non-AC baseload.
- Falling for 12V "1kW kits". Off-grid gadget kits with a battery and two panels are not comparable to a net-metered on-grid system and earn no subsidy.
- Ignoring fixed costs. Net-metering fees and structure minimums weigh heaviest at this size; get the all-inclusive quote in writing.
How These 1kW Numbers Are Calculated
Daily units = 1 kW × Peak sun hours × 0.8
Net cost = Gross cost − Subsidy
Monthly saving ≈ Monthly units × Your tariff × 0.9
Assumptions
- Cost: on-grid ₹58,000/kW, hybrid ₹72,000/kW, off-grid ₹85,000/kW, ±10%
- Generation: your city's peak sun hours × 0.8 performance ratio
- Saving: assumes ~90% of generation offsets billed units at your tariff
