Rooftop Solar Explorer: Mapping the Rooftop Solar Potential of 120+ Cities in India

One of the major barriers to rooftop solar adoption in India has been the lower consumer awareness about the potential of their rooftops for solar energy generation and the associated technical and economic benefits. Mapping the rooftop solar potential of cities is a critical step in overcoming this hurdle, as it can help consumers understand the feasibility and value of adopting rooftop solar systems in an accessible and visual manner. This is where the Rooftop Solar Explorer (RTSE) platform, developed by the Center for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), India, plays a transformative role by providing a scientific, user-friendly platform for assessing and visualizing rooftop solar potential.RTSE is an innovative geospatial platform that integrates advanced methodologies to assess and visualize rooftop solar potential on each rooftop in 120+ Indian cities. The platform combines high-resolution drone and satellite imagery, Digital Surface Models (DSM) for slope, aspect, and shading analysis, and 3D point cloud data to deliver accurate rooftop solar assessments. These techniques are augmented with consumers’ electricity consumption profiles, state-specific energy tariffs, and distribution grid data to provide actionable insights at building, city, and regional levels.RTSE is a key enabler of India’s flagship Rooftop Solar scheme, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, targeting the solarization of 10 million households by 2026–27. By mapping rooftop potential across 120+ cities, it generates granular datasets that empower multiple stakeholders through detailed shadow-free analyses, optimal system sizing, and financial feasibility projections over 25 years.Preliminary findings highlight that in the last six months, over 100,000 users employed the platform to evaluate their rooftop solar potential and projected economic savings.