Maharashtra changed its solar policy in March 2026, and the biggest change is not a tariff or a subsidy. It is a battery. New solar projects above 100 kW that seek connectivity in the state must now carry co-located storage. The policy sets the minimum size.
This guide works from the policy document itself. It covers what applies to your next rooftop, open access, or utility bid, and how to size the storage the policy asks for. For the state-by-state comparison, see our reading of state solar policies in India.
Quick answer. The current Maharashtra solar policy is the Maharashtra Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Policy 2025-26 to 2035-36, notified on 18 March 2026 and valid to 31 March 2036. It replaces the 2020 policy. New solar or wind projects above 100 kW seeking connectivity from 1 April 2026 must add storage of 50% of RE capacity for 2 hours. That equals 1 MWh per MW.
TL;DR
- Policy: Maharashtra RE and Energy Storage Policy 2025-26 to 2035-36, GR dated 18 March 2026.
- New solar above 100 kW needs storage of 50% of RE capacity for 2 hours. That is 1 MWh per MW, not 0.5 MWh.
- The rule covers rooftop projects under MERC rooftop regulations and open access projects under MERC open access regulations.
- Projects with in-principle grid connectivity before 18 March 2026 stay on the 2020 or 2015 policy and cannot switch.
- Green open access eligibility drops to 100 kW from 1 MW. Captive green OA with 4-hour storage can claim a 10-year electricity duty exemption.
This article is written for the EPC founder or project developer bidding C&I and utility work in Maharashtra in 2026. Sources are the policy text and the official FAQ, both accessed 6 October 2026. Verify project-specific requirements with MSEDCL, MSETCL, or MEDA before you commit a design.
Which Maharashtra Solar Policy Is in Force in 2026?
The policy in force is the Maharashtra Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Policy 2025-26 to 2035-36. The Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining Department approved it by Government Resolution dated 18 March 2026 (unique code 202603181848365810). It runs to 31 March 2036.
It supersedes the Integrated Non-Conventional Energy Generation Policy 2020. You can read the full policy document (Government of Maharashtra, March 2026). The Energy Department also issued an official FAQ, Version 1.0 (August 2026) that clarifies the storage rule.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Policy name | Maharashtra Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Policy 2025-26 to 2035-36 |
| Notified | GR dated 18 March 2026 |
| Valid until | 31 March 2036 |
| Replaces | RE Policy 2020 (2015 and 2020 projects keep their policy) |
| Nodal agency | Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), single window portal |
| Regulator | Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), merc.gov.in |
What Are the Policy Targets?
The state aims to source 65% of its electricity demand from renewable energy by FY 2035-36. DISCOMs must procure storage equal to at least 10% of demand by the same year. That storage obligation counts only when at least 85% of stored energy comes from renewable sources each year.
The policy estimates the 65% target needs about 100 GW of RE capacity and about 100 GWh per day of storage. It also targets 10 GW of contracted solar and wind with co-located storage by FY 2029-30. The FY 2035-36 figure is 25 GW.
| Target | FY 2029-30 | FY 2035-36 |
|---|---|---|
| RE with co-located storage (contracted) | 10 GW | 25 GW |
| Long-term green open access | 5 GW / 10 BU | 10 GW / 20 BU |
| RE Industrial Zones (min 100 MW each) | 10 zones | 15 zones |
| Thermal bundling with RE or storage | 2 GW | 5 GW |
| Share of demand from RE | n/a | 65% |
For context, the policy states Maharashtra had 31.3 GW of RE by the end of January 2026. It also reports about 5 GW of installed rooftop solar as of January 2026, including PM Surya Ghar.
The 100 kW Storage Mandate, Section by Section
The mandate appears in two places, and both matter to EPCs.
- Rooftop and grid-interactive projects (Section 5.4). Projects above 100 kW seeking connectivity from 1 April 2026 under MERC’s Grid Interactive Rooftop Renewable Energy Generating Systems Regulations must install minimum storage.
- Open access projects (Section 7.2). RE projects above 100 kW seeking transmission connectivity from 1 April 2026 under MERC’s distribution and transmission open access regulations face the same rule.
In both cases the opening minimum is 50% of RE capacity for 2 hours. The policy says this minimum will be reviewed every two years and applied to new projects. The government can also notify a different start date.
Read the threshold carefully. Section 7.1 says there is "no storage mandate specifically on the consumer" for the proposed 1 to 100 kW framework. The mandate starts above 100 kW. A 99 kW rooftop and a 150 kW rooftop now sit under different design rules.
The FAQ closes two loopholes. Open access projects that need no banking support are not exempt (FAQ Q4). Hybrid projects that do not share an injection point need storage at each connectivity point (FAQ Q5).
How Much Battery Does a Project Need?
The common mistake is to read “50% for 2 hours” as half a MWh per MW. The official FAQ (Q7) states it directly: the rule implies 1 MWh of storage per MW of connectivity. The battery power rating is 50% of RE capacity, and it runs for 2 hours.
The FAQ also allows sizing flexibility. The energy must still total 1 MWh per MW, but the battery power rating can drop to 25% of connectivity. Behind-the-meter, rooftop, and onsite projects above 100 kW can use a 25% power rating with 4 hours of duration.
Worked sizing table
| Project (connectivity) | Default sizing (50%, 2 h) | Flexible sizing (25%, 4 h) | Duty-exemption sizing (2 MWh/MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 kW rooftop | 75 kW / 150 kWh | 37.5 kW / 150 kWh | Not applicable (rooftop) |
| 500 kW rooftop | 250 kW / 500 kWh | 125 kW / 500 kWh | Not applicable (rooftop) |
| 5 MW captive green OA | 2.5 MW / 5 MWh | 1.25 MW / 5 MWh | 10 MWh, with at least 1.25 MW power rating |
| 50 MW InSTS project | 25 MW / 50 MWh | 12.5 MW / 50 MWh | Case-specific |
The duty-exemption column follows Section 7.2.2 and FAQ Q7. Long-term captive green open access projects with storage of 50% of contracted RE for 4 hours get a 10-year Electricity Duty exemption. The FAQ sets that at 2 MWh per MW, with a minimum power rating of 25%.
Battery cost, chemistry, and C-rate are not in the policy. Size them with a real load and generation study. See our guide to BESS sizing for C&I solar.
Does the Battery Change the Commissioning Date?
Yes. FAQ Q8 says projects that need storage must declare commercial operation together with the storage. Phased projects must commission proportional storage with each phase. MEDA will check deployment, sizing, and commissioning through its single window portal.
For EPCs, this moves the battery onto the critical path. Battery delivery, protection settings, and metering now gate COD. So does the AC or DC coupling choice. A solar plant that is ready while the battery is late cannot be commissioned under this policy.
This also changes the drawing set. The single-line diagram, protection scheme, and metering layout must show the BESS from the first submission. Our electrical CEIG drawings team prepares SLDs with the storage shown, which avoids a second round of revisions.
Which Projects Stay on the 2020 Policy?
Section 3(d) keeps projects under construction or operating under the 2015 and 2020 policies on those policies. The FAQ (Q1 to Q3) defines the test as in-principle grid connectivity before 18 March 2026.
| Project status on 18 March 2026 | Governing policy | Can it switch? |
|---|---|---|
| In-principle grid connectivity granted | 2020 or 2015 RE policy | No |
| Applied on MEDA portal, no connectivity approval | 2025-26 to 2035-36 policy | Registered under new policy |
| Operating project adding storage or RE | Existing PPA terms unchanged (Section 5.2.2) | Expansion allowed within granted injection quantum |
Under MSETCL practice, in-principle connectivity follows the MEDA project ID, a technical feasibility check, and the commitment fee. If your client has none of these, design to the new rules.
What Changes for Open Access and Rooftop Consumers?
The policy lowers green open access eligibility to 100 kW from the earlier 1 MW. For how this compares with other states, see our state guide to open access in 2026.
It also proposes a layered framework for consumers up to 100 kW. MERC “may consider” it, so it is a proposal, not yet a regulation.
| Capacity | Proposed mechanism | Proposed banking |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 kW | Concessional net metering | Annual, across ToD slots |
| 3 to 10 kW | Net metering | Monthly, across ToD slots, with a grid support charge per kW |
| 10 to 100 kW | Net billing | Monthly, within a ToD slot only, with a grid support charge per kW |
| 10 to 100 kW option | Green open access, group captive | Charge per kWh banked |
Until MERC adopts changes, today’s MERC rooftop regulations (2019, amended in 2023 and 2024) and MSEDCL procedures apply. For the current rooftop paperwork, see our MSEDCL net metering drawing guide. Because energy banking rules drive rooftop savings, test the proposed ToD slots in your client’s financial model now.
Land, Parks, and Transmission Provisions
Three provisions matter for ground-mount and utility bids.
- Private land lease. The base rate is the higher of 6% of stamp-duty land value or ₹1,25,000 per hectare a year. It rises 3% a year (Section 6.2).
- Government land. Type 1 and Type 2 land can be leased at a nominal ₹1 per year for 30 years, by mutual agreement (Section 6.1).
- Non-agricultural use. NA tax and premium are to be waived for projects under the policy, subject to a Revenue Department notification (Section 6.3).
RE Industrial Zones must be at least 100 MW. The FAQ (Q9) confirms that parks built only by private players do not qualify for the ₹500 crore state budget support. Standalone storage needs at least 5 MW to seek intra-state transmission connectivity (Section 5).
For the connection process itself, see our reading of the CEA connectivity regulations.
A Pre-Bid Checklist for Maharashtra Projects
Run these checks before you price a Maharashtra project in 2026.
- Confirm the policy regime. Ask whether in-principle grid connectivity was granted before 18 March 2026.
- Check the 100 kW line. Above it, the storage minimum applies to rooftop and open access projects.
- Size storage in MWh, not just kW. Use 1 MWh per MW as the floor, and 2 MWh per MW if the client wants the duty exemption.
- Put storage on the drawings. SLD, protection, and metering must include the BESS for the first submission.
- Plan COD with the battery. Storage must be commissioned with the solar capacity.
- Recheck the two-year review. The minimum can change for new projects, so confirm the current figure with MEDA.
A complete solar post-design package covers the drawings, calculations, and documents this checklist depends on.
FAQ
Is net metering still available in Maharashtra in 2026?
Yes. Net metering continues under MERC’s Grid Interactive Rooftop Regulations 2019 and their amendments. The policy proposes a shift to net billing for 10 to 100 kW, but that needs MERC action first.
Does the storage rule apply to PM Surya Ghar home systems?
Residential systems under PM Surya Ghar are usually far below 100 kW, so the mandate does not reach them. The policy does require their inverters to follow MNRE’s communication guidelines.
Can existing solar plants add batteries?
Yes. Section 5.2.2 allows storage or extra RE on existing projects with no change to the PPA. Grid injection must never exceed the granted connectivity in any time block.
Where do developers register projects?
On MEDA’s single window portal at mahaurja.com. The policy says MEDA will simplify registration for projects up to 5 MW.
Next Step for Your Maharashtra Bid
The storage rule changes the scope of every C&I project above 100 kW. Bids priced on 2025 assumptions will be short on equipment, drawings, and schedule.
If you need the SLD, BESS layout, and CEIG drawing set for a Maharashtra project, send us the project details. We reply within 1 business day.
Policy reviewed: Maharashtra RE and Energy Storage Policy 2025-26 to 2035-36 and FAQ Version 1.0, accessed 6 October 2026. Next review: April 2027 or on any MERC order that changes the storage minimum.