REconnect Pune: Rooftop Solar EPCs Call Out Policy Hurdles, Seek Practical Fixes
At the Pune edition of the REconnect Summit 2025, panellists in the ‘Rooftop Rumbling Session’ comprising local solar EPC players discussed on-ground realities, operational challenges, and possible solutions for strengthening rooftop solar deployment in Maharashtra.
September 19, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
This makes rooftop solar one of the key contributors to Maharashtra’s clean energy transition. Looking beyond the optimism, the sector grapples with multiple challenges – ranging from policy bottlenecks and delayed Discom approvals to financing gaps and customer awareness challenges.
At the Reconnect Summit Pune 2025, local solar EPC players took centre stage to voice the ground realities of Maharashtra’s rooftop solar market, the challenges and the probable solutions during the ‘Rooftop Rumbling’ session.
Moderating the session, Jaideep N. Malaviya, Managing Director of Malaviya Solar Energy Consultancy and Director at the International Solar Energy Society, Germany, set the tone by emphasising that the discussion would focus on the on-ground realities of EPC players and the challenges they face. He noted that Maharashtra, now among the top five states in India for solar energy with over 10,000 MW installed, still grapples with persistent hurdles.
Malaviya opened the conversation with the widely debated shortage of DCR panels, followed by consumer concerns over delays in project completion and the scarcity of skilled manpower. To address this gap, he stressed the need for MSEDCL to conduct certified installer courses, ensuring quality implementation and strengthening consumer confidence in solar projects.
Akshay Wakade, Founder of Sunarc Enterprises, outlined a series of pressing challenges faced by EPC players in the solar sector. He pointed to major delays by Discoms as one of the biggest hurdles, compounded by technical issues linked to AMISP and frequent portal problems on both Discom and AMISP platforms. These, he said, slow down project execution significantly.
Wakade also highlighted material shortages, especially DCR panels and certain types of meters, which disrupt timelines. He raised concerns over malpractices by vendors misguiding consumers, which tarnishes the credibility of the sector. On the operational side, he noted a shortage of skilled labour and reliable fabricators, along with server downtimes that further delay project approvals and implementation.
Balkrishna Lohokare, Director of Unishark Powertech Solutions, underscored the regulatory and procedural hurdles slowing down solar adoption. He pointed out that the approval process – covering net-metering, site inspections, and paperwork – faces frequent delays, holding back timely project execution.
He further flagged regulatory uncertainty at MSEDCL, particularly around net-metering policies and Time-of-Day (ToD) tariffs, which creates confusion for both developers and consumers. Lohokare also criticised the high wheeling and open access charges, which increase project costs and reduce competitiveness. Adding to the challenges, he noted persistent coordination issues within MSEDCL offices, making it difficult for EPCs to secure smooth clearances.
Smita Jadhav, CEO of Nutans Renewable Energies, stressed that a solar power plant is not just a product to be bought or sold but a full-fledged project requiring SITC execution and liaising with government bodies. She highlighted that EPC players are central to this process, yet government policies often fail to recognise their role.
Jadhav pointed out that the approval system is riddled with glitches – consumer registration is not user-friendly, documentation is repetitive, and multiple portals make the process unnecessarily complex. Despite MSEDCL’s efforts, the absence of a single-window clearance keeps project timelines painfully slow. She further noted that scattered guidelines, poor vendor accountability, misleading practices, and weak after-sales service erode consumer trust and affect long-term performance.
Shashikant Wakade, Director, Bhargav Enterprises, highlighted the issue of unfair competition, where some players are quoting abnormally low prices – for instance, as little as INR 1.5 lakh for a 3 kW system – making it unsustainable for serious players to operate. He also pointed out that proper structural manufacturers are not easily available in the market, creating quality and reliability issues.
Wakade further warned that customers are often misled by false claims about the quality and efficiency of the solar systems, leading to dissatisfaction and trust deficits. Additionally, he noted that shadow analysis is not being carried out properly by EPCs, resulting in poor system performance and long-term credibility risks for the sector.
Responding to the concerns raised by EPC players, Kanchan Bhosale, Dy. Executive Engineer, MSEDCL, acknowledged that consumers were indeed facing hurdles in claiming subsidies and uploading documents on the portal. “We are coordinating with REC to resolve these glitches, and corrective measures are already underway,” she assured.
Bhosale further informed that the MNRE has scheduled a dedicated training program for solar EPC vendors under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana in Pune on October 1, 2025. MSEDCL has already received entries from 47 EPCs from the Pune region for the same. She further added that there is a scope for a second batch if more players come forward. “This platform will enable suggestions and issues to be discussed collectively so that a clear roadmap can be drawn,” she added.
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