01
Panels make power in daylight
Sunlight on the panels produces DC electricity. More sun means more power; a cloudy hour means less.
Rooftop Solar Guide
Rooftop Solar, Explained Simply
What it is, how it works, and what to expect — before you look at a single quote.
If solar is new to you, start here. This guide covers the basics in plain terms so you can talk to any installer with confidence, and know when a proposal makes sense for your home or business.
How rooftop solar works
Four steps, and the grid does the rest.
02
The inverter converts it
The inverter turns that DC into the normal AC supply your home and appliances use.
03
Your building uses it first
Whatever is switched on runs from solar before it draws anything from the grid. This is where most of the saving comes from.
04
Surplus and shortfall balance out
Extra power flows to the grid for a credit under net metering. After dark, you draw from the grid as usual and the credit is set off.
What a solar system is made of
Five parts, whatever the size of the system.
Solar panels
Mounted on the roof at an angle, facing the sun. The number of panels sets the system size in kilowatts (kW).
Inverter
Converts the panels' DC output to AC and manages the flow between your building and the grid.
Mounting structure
Holds the panels at the right angle and is rated for local wind. On flat roofs it raises them clear of the surface.
Meters and safety gear
A net meter that records import and export, plus isolation, surge protection, and earthing.
Monitoring
An app that shows daily generation, so a drop is easy to notice.
What decides your system size
- Your electricity bill and yearly units
- How much of your use is in the daytime
- The usable, shade-free roof area you have
- Shading from tanks, parapets, and nearby buildings
- Your sanctioned load with the DISCOM
- Any big loads you plan to add later
A system much bigger than your own use or your sanctioned load usually does not pay back well. We size to match.
On-grid, hybrid, or off-grid?
Most homes and businesses choose on-grid. The other two are for specific needs.
On-grid
No battery. Lowest cost and the biggest bill saving per rupee spent. Switches off during a power cut.
Read moreHybrid
Grid connection plus a battery. Keeps your chosen loads running through an outage. Costs more.
Read moreOff-grid
No grid at all. Solar and batteries carry the whole load. For remote sites with no line.
Read moreWhat to expect from the project
With Paso Solar, one team runs all of it and one person is your point of contact.
1
Site survey
We check your roof, shading, structure, and connection, and confirm solar will work before you commit.
2
Proposal
A fixed quote, the system design, and a realistic view of generation and savings for your bill.
3
Approvals
We take care of the entire DISCOM and subsidy paperwork. You do not visit an office.
4
Installation
Usually two to three days for a home. Longer for larger rooftops.
5
Handover and support
We commission the system, complete the meter change, and hand over the records. Home systems up to 10 kW get 5 years of comprehensive maintenance, included.
Go deeper
Detailed articles on how solar works and what different properties need.
- What Is Rooftop Solar?What a rooftop solar system is, the parts it is made of, what each one does, and what the system can and cannot do for your electricity bill.3 min read
- How a Solar System Works, Step by StepThe path electricity takes from sunlight on the module to the appliance in your home, including where losses occur and why output never matches the panel rating.3 min read
- Solar Without a Battery: Why Most Systems Skip StorageWhy the majority of Indian rooftop systems are installed without batteries, what you give up, and the specific situations where storage genuinely earns its cost.3 min read
- How Long Does a Solar System Last?Realistic service life for each part of a rooftop solar system, the difference between product and performance warranties, and what will need replacing along the way.3 min read
- How Much Electricity Does Solar Generate in Karnataka?Expected generation per kW in Karnataka, how it varies month to month through the monsoon, and the site factors that move your figure up or down.3 min read
- Solar for Independent HousesAn independent house is the simplest rooftop solar case in India: you own the roof, you hold the connection, and you decide alone. That removes most of.2 min read
- Solar for VillasVillas sit between independent houses and community projects. The roof is usually generous and the consumption is high enough to justify a larger system,.2 min read
- Solar for ApartmentsApartment solar is misunderstood more often than any other segment. Individual flat owners usually cannot install a system for their own flat, because the.2 min read
- Solar for Gated CommunitiesA gated community is an apartment project scaled up, with one additional complication: the load is spread across clubhouse, streetlighting, water.2 min read
Ready to see what fits your roof?
Share your latest electricity bill and a photo of your roof. We will tell you the right system size and what it should save you.