In Dubapara, a village in Assam, India, a schoolteacher has used rooftop solar for the past 15 years, proving it can do more than back up the grid.
Here's what to know
According to The Assam Tribune, Shozim Uddin's interest in home solar took shape after he saw small lighting systems in remote char areas where grid service was weak or absent. He asked the crews behind those installations how solar panels and batteries functioned, then used that knowledge to create a solar-panel system for his own house.
With Dubapara dealing with repeated outages and unstable electricity that interrupted everyday routines, solar looked like a practical answer. Uddin began with six solar panels brought in from Bengaluru.
Better equipment eventually changed his setup. He has transitioned from the original off-grid setup to a PM Surya Ghar rooftop system that generates electricity at home and reduces his reliance on Assam Power Distribution Company Limited.
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What can be done?
Uddin's shift from an off-grid system to an on-grid rooftop installation through the PM Surya Ghar program built on his earlier investment instead of replacing it.
If you're considering a similar switch, EnergySage offers free tools that let homeowners compare competitive bids from local installers without sharing their contact information unless they choose to move forward. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage's solar map also shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with solar panel incentives for each state, helping homeowners get the best possible price.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is a sure way to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Batteries also let households store daytime solar production for use after sunset or during service interruptions. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Where can I learn more?
Switching to solar can cut bills, reduce outage stress, and give homeowners more control over where their power comes from.
• An off-grid homeowner showed that snow-covered solar panels can still produce useful power.
• In Tennessee, one family built a high-tech system that could sideline generators for decades.
• As utility costs climb, rooftop solar can save you on bills for years.
More From EnergySage
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
• More homeowners are pairing panels with home battery storage to ride through outages.
• At EnergySage, price quotes show how interconnected solar costs shape what homeowners ultimately pay.
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