What C&I means
C&I stands for commercial and industrial. C&I solar is any solar plant built for a business rather than a home: offices, shops, hospitals, schools, hotels, warehouses and factories.
In the power sector, C&I consumers are electricity users billed on commercial or industrial tariffs. In Tamil Nadu that means LT commercial (about ₹10.45 a unit), LT industrial (about ₹8.25) and HT industrial (about ₹7.50 plus demand charges).
How C&I solar differs from home solar
| Home solar | C&I solar | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical size | 1–10 kW | 25 kW to several MW |
| Power it replaces | ₹0–11.55 a unit by slab | ₹7.50–10.45 a unit, mostly in daytime |
| Subsidy | PM Surya Ghar + Tamil Nadu top-up (up to ₹1 lakh) | No subsidy; accelerated depreciation for eligible businesses |
| Metering | Net metering | Net feed-in or gross metering |
| How it is paid for | Cash or solar loan | CAPEX, loan, RESCO/PPA (zero investment) or open access |
Common types of C&I solar
- Rooftop: on factory sheds, office and hospital roofs.
- Carports and canopies: over parking yards and petrol bunks.
- Ground-mount: on unused land at the site.
- Open access / group captive: power from an off-site solar park, sent through the grid.
- BIPV: solar built into facades, skylights and canopies.
What C&I solar costs
Indicative turnkey prices in Tamil Nadu: about ₹45–50 lakh for 100 kWp and ₹3.8–4.2 crore for 1 MWp, before GST. Because daytime grid power costs ₹7.50 or more, payback is typically 3–5 years, or there is no upfront cost at all under RESCO.
Read more: commercial solar, industrial solar by sector and CAPEX vs RESCO vs open access.
FAQ
What does C&I mean in solar?
C&I means commercial and industrial. C&I solar is solar built for businesses such as offices, shops, hospitals, schools and factories, as opposed to residential solar for homes.
Who are C&I consumers?
Electricity users billed on commercial or industrial tariffs. In Tamil Nadu these are LT commercial, LT industrial and HT consumers of TNPDCL.
Is there a subsidy for C&I solar?
No direct subsidy. PM Surya Ghar covers homes only. Businesses benefit from lower power bills and, if eligible, accelerated depreciation; RESCO lets them go solar with no investment.