Why Are Smart Chennai Homes Choosing Solar As A Smart Investment Option?

The Hindu

5 days ago

Most parts of India witness scorching heat and soaring temperatures during the summer. With this most households start witnessing soaring electricity bills. As cooling needs rise, homeowners find themselves paying hefty electricity bills that only increase over time. However, some homes who have shifted to a smarter, more sustainable solution are saving big on electricity bills.
Across India, lakhs of families have already made the switch to rooftop solar, not just to reduce bills but also to invest in their future and safeguard themselves against rising electricity costs.
Rooftop Solar Is Not A Cost, But An Investment
Rooftop solar lets you generate your electricity using solar panels installed on your home's rooftop. Chennai receives approximately 300 days of sunlight per year, making it an ideal choice for solar energy generation in India.
With a one-time investment in a rooftop solar system, you can cut your electricity bills by up to 90%. Paying for solar, therefore, does not become a cost; it becomes an investment.
The 25-year saving advantage
Let's assume your average monthly electricity bill is approximately ₹4,500 - ₹5,000. Annually, you will spend approximately ₹53,000 on your electricity bills. Assuming a tariff of ₹7.6 per unit, your annual consumption would stand at ~7000 units, for which you would need a 5 kW system.
Now, here's where solar starts to shine.
A 5 kW system produces ~7050 units annually.
Over 25 years, that can lead to savings of ~₹68,000 per year, adding up to ~₹17–18 lakhs in total.
Solar doesn't just cut costs — it builds wealth, with a 23 %+ IRR over its lifespan.
Rooftop Solar Gives Better Returns Than Traditional Investments
As you can see in the above example, if you spend ₹1.3-1.5 Lakh (after subsidy) for a 3kW installation, your savings on electricity bills over a period of 25 years comes to ~₹10-11 Lakhs - which is more than 25% internal rate of return.
FDs typically offer 6-7% returns annually and are taxed. Gold appreciates slowly and doesn't offer yearly savings.
Rooftop solar clearly offers 3x higher returns than fixed deposits, nearly double the returns from gold, and even outperforms most mutual funds.
Plus, government subsidies under PM Surya Ghar Yojana can reduce your system cost significantly by up to ₹78,000 for homeowners.
Not all Rooftop Solar Are The Same.
In Chennai's cyclone-prone climate, durability and quality matter. Many fly-by-night solar vendors cut corners, use substandard materials, and provide solar systems that fail to perform in the long run, leading to poor generation, risky rooftop installations, and zero after-sale support. All this can put your home and investment at risk.
That's where SolarSquare comes in — a company that's rethinking rooftop solar to adapt to India's changing weather conditions.
Rooftop Solar designed specially for cities like Chennai
At SolarSquare, rooftop solar goes beyond just installing panels - safety, savings, and service are engineered into every system.
Cyclone-Proof Structure: Our WindPro Mount™ , developed in-house and approved by IIT Bombay, is India's first storm-proof mounting structure. It's designed to withstand winds of up to 170 kmph — perfect for coastal cities like Chennai.
, developed in-house and approved by IIT Bombay, is India's first storm-proof mounting structure. It's designed to withstand winds of up to 170 kmph — perfect for coastal cities like Chennai. Guaranteed Savings: India's only solar company to offer a Savings Guarantee — if your system doesn't generate the promised units, there is a compensation of ₹8 per unit.
— if your system doesn't generate the promised units, there is a compensation of ₹8 per unit. Professional Maintenance: From regular cleaning to performance checks, there is focus to ensure the system runs like new, year after year.
Proven Results: Take Ramesh from SM Nagar in Chennai, for instance. His 5.4 kW system was up and running within a month. 'I'm really happy with the workmanship and the generation I'm seeing. I am now getting a generation of between 750-850 units per month, which seems to be nice,' he says.
Eager to know how much you can save? Use the free solar calculator to get a more personalised estimate based on your electricity usage.
At SolarSquare, we believe solar isn't just for sunshine — it's for storms too. With the right solar, you don't just reduce your bills. You secure your future.
'This article is part of sponsored content programme.'