Solar for warehouses in Tamil Nadu
Warehouses have the biggest roofs and often the smallest daytime load. Fill the roof and most of the output is exported cheaply, so we size the plant to what the building uses.
Size to the load, not the roof
Lighting, forklift charging, dock equipment and offices draw power through the day, so solar covers them well. But a unit exported to the grid earns only ₹3.10–3.61 before network charges, about ₹1.8–2.1 after, against ₹8.85 saved for a unit used on site on LT-V.
So the right plant is usually smaller than the roof. Charging forklifts and fleet EVs at midday, and moving packing or cooling loads into daylight, lets a bigger plant pay.
The roof decides how long the plant lasts. We check sheet age, corrosion and purlins first, because a plant built for 25 years needs a roof that will last as long.
What a right-sized plant saves a warehouse
A 100 kWp plant makes about 1,44,000 units a year. In this example 70% is used on site and 30% exported, typical for a single-shift warehouse.
| Use | Units a year | Value per unit (₹) | Value a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used on site (70%) | 1,00,800 | 8.85 | about ₹8.9 lakh |
| Exported (30%) | 43,200 | 1.77 | about ₹0.8 lakh |
Total about ₹9.1 lakh a year after O&M; plant cost ₹45–50 lakh, simple payback about 5.0–5.5 years. Indicative, year one: 1,440 units per kWp a year, output used on site unless shown, O&M at ₹600 per kWp a year, before tax benefits and tariff changes. Plant costs are indicative; the final price follows a site survey. Network charges: TNERC GISS order No. 8 of 2021; LT III-B pays half under TNERC Order No. 3 of 2025. The charge on captive rooftop solar is contested in the Madras High Court (a December 2024 ruling against it was stayed in April 2025), so check your latest bill.
Run your own numbers in the TNEB bill calculatorHow we size a warehouse plant
- Hour-by-hour load from your meter or bills, weekdays and Sundays
- Loads that can move into daylight: forklift and EV charging, packing, cooling
- Roof sheets and purlins, and replacement plans for the next 25 years
- Tariff category (LT-V, LT III-B or HT) and sanctioned load
Is there a subsidy?
The PM Surya Ghar subsidy is for homes only. A business that buys its plant can claim 40% accelerated depreciation in the first year; your CA can confirm the benefit.
If you lease the warehouse, a RESCO or PPA arrangement lets a developer own the plant while you pay per unit, with no capital outlay.
Warehouse solar: common questions
How big a solar plant should a warehouse install?
Size it to the building's daytime load, not the roof area. Units used on site save ₹8.85 on LT-V, while exported units earn only about ₹1.8–2.1 after network charges.
Can a warehouse roof take solar panels?
Usually, if the sheets and purlins have life left. We check sheet age, corrosion and purlin capacity first, and plan walkways and fire-access lanes.
What does a 100 kWp warehouse plant cost and save?
Indicatively ₹45–50 lakh. With 70% of the output used on site on LT-V, it saves about ₹9.1 lakh a year after O&M, a simple payback of about 5.0–5.5 years.
What if the warehouse is leased?
A RESCO or PPA model lets a developer own and maintain the plant while you pay a fixed rate per unit. Agree roof access and the plant's term with the owner first.
Can we sell surplus solar from the warehouse roof?
Under net feed-in, surplus is credited at ₹3.10–3.61 a unit before network charges. That is why we size to your own use and move flexible loads into daylight.
More: solar by industry in Tamil Nadu · industrial solar EPC · 40% accelerated depreciation
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An engineer reviews your EB bill and roof, then sizes the plant to your load. We reply within one working hour, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 7 pm.
- Plant size from your daytime load, not your roof area
- Savings worked out on your own tariff and network charge
- CAPEX, RESCO or open-access options side by side
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