If you have read our guide to solar panels for homes in India, you already know that an on-grid solar system is the cost-effective and most common choice for most homeowners in India.
In fact, only an on-grid system is eligible for the PM Surya Ghar subsidy, and most solar EPC installers recommend it.
To re-emphasise, an on-grid solar system works in areas where the grid supply (electricity supply) is stable.
But if the electricity supply is unstable, OR you get frequent power cuts, then off-grid and hybrid solar systems are the best choice.
The following will explain
Description | On-Grid | Off-Grid | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
Needs a grid connection (Electricity Supply) | Yes | No | Yes |
Works during a power cut | No (shuts off for safety) | Yes | Yes |
Battery Required | No | Yes (large battery bank) | Yes (smaller battery bank) |
PM Surya Ghar Subsidy | Yes, up to ₹78,000* | No | Generally No |
Best for | Homes with stable grid supply, subsidy-first buyers | Farmhouses, remote homes, weak/no grid areas | Homes with frequent outages that still have a grid connection |
Cost of System | Lowest | Highest | Mid-to-high |
An off-grid solar system for home can power a home zero dependence on electricity supply (utility grid).
Every unit of electricity that you use, come from your own solar panels and battery bank.
This kind of system is best for farmhouses, weekend homes, and rural properties where a electricity supply is highly unreliable, or simply not available.
Since, there is low to no electricity supply throughout the day and night, an off-grid solar system for home need sufficient number of batteries as per daily electricity consumption.
The batteries make the off-grid system the most expensive of the three options.
For the full technical breakdown – how the panels, charge controller, battery bank, and inverter work together – see our detailed guide: Off-Grid Solar Electric System.
Depending on the power requirement and how many hours the backup is required, the off-grid solar system size is suggested.
You can get an exact off-grid solar system price by reaching out to our team of solar experts at our Toll-free number 1800 103 2600
A Hybrid solar system for home stays connected to the grid. So, you still get net metering and lower day-to-day running costs. At the same time, it is connected to the battery bank that keeps your home powered even when the electricity supply is not there.
This option is used by most premium homes and villas in India. One enjoys the low cost of grid electricity most of the time, and you get lights, fans, WiFi, and even your refrigerator & AC running when there is a power cut. So, a Diesel genset is not required to power your home.
Normally, a hybrid rooftop solar system has a smaller number of batteries / battery bank – that is essential for a few hours of backup, rather than a full day backup. So, the overall cost of a hybrid solar system is considerably less than an off-grid solar system.
Before asking for a hybrid solar system price or an off grid solar system price, one must understand the power requirements of the home.
As a starting point:
Your actual number depends on your monthly electricity bill, your appliance load, and how many backup hours matter to you – our solar experts can help you to find out your exact requirement of batteries.
Off-grid and hybrid are the right call when backup and independence matter more.
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy of up to ₹78,000 is built around grid-connected, net-metered solar – in other words, this subsidy is available only for on-grid solar systems.
Off-grid systems, by definition, are not connected to the grid, so they fall outside the scheme entirely.
Hybrid systems keep the grid connection, but the battery and hybrid inverter portion of the system generally is not what the subsidy is designed to cover, so the effective subsidy benefit on a hybrid solar system for home is usually much smaller than on a straightforward on-grid install.
If getting the subsidy is the primary goal, and your grid supply is reliable, an on-grid system – covered in full in our solar panels for home guide – remains the most cost-effective starting point.
Off-grid and hybrid are the right call when backup and independence matter more.
Your Situation | Recommended System |
|---|---|
Stable grid, want the lowest cost and full subsidy | On-grid |
Farmhouse or rural property with no reliable grid | Off-grid |
Frequent power cuts, but grid connection works fine otherwise | Hybrid |
Want full independence and don’t mind the higher upfront cost | Off-grid |
Want backup for a few essentials during power cuts, not full independence | Hybrid |