Solar Plant Set-up: Approvals and Registrations Roadmap
A solar plant needs the right paperwork before the first panel goes up: the owning entity, a DISCOM connection under net metering or open access, electrical inspection and ALMM-listed modules. We handle the company or SPV set-up, applications, portal filings and liaison with DHBVN, UHBVN and HAREDA in Haryana. Design and installation stay with your EPC contractor.
What it is
Solar plant set-up, on this page, means the approvals side of a solar project. A factory putting 300 kW on its roof, a group of buyers taking power through open access, or a farmer installing a solar pump each go through a different set of permissions. Each route has its own approver. A Faridabad forging unit with a large roof and a steady daytime load will usually look at net metering first. An investor building on leased land in Hisar to sell power follows a different path entirely.
The rules come from several places. The Electricity Act, 2003 and the regulations of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) govern grid connection and metering. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) runs the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) and the central schemes. HAREDA is the state nodal agency for renewable energy in Haryana. The Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022 cover buying green power through open access.
We are not an engineering firm. Your EPC contractor designs and installs the plant, and the Electrical Inspector inspects it. We handle the entity, documents, applications, portal filings and follow-up with each authority, and keep the compliance file in order after commissioning.
Who it applies to
Factories and commercial buildings
Rooftop or on-site plants that offset your own consumption through net metering with your DISCOM.
Open access buyers
Consumers sourcing green power from a plant elsewhere, as captive users or under green energy open access from 100 kW.
Developers and SPVs
Investors setting up a ground-mounted plant to sell power, who usually hold it in a separate company.
Housing and homes
Residential households installing grid-connected rooftop solar, who may qualify for central assistance under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
Farmers and farm groups
PM-KUSUM is implemented in Haryana by HAREDA, through its own portal, mainly for solar pumps and farm solarisation.
Government suppliers
Anyone bidding to sell solar power to a government buyer, where ALMM-listed modules and cells are mandatory.
Why it matters
No approval, no grid connection
Your DISCOM will not connect or bill a plant under net metering or open access until the paperwork and inspection are complete.
Buy listed modules or lose benefits
MNRE requires ALMM-listed modules for net metering, open access and government-backed projects. Non-listed panels can block the connection.
Lenders read the file first
Banks financing a solar plant want the entity documents, land or roof rights and DISCOM approvals on file. No file, no disbursement.
Which route fits your project
Most projects in Haryana fall into one of these routes. Each has a different approver and a different set of filings.
| Route | Who it suits | Main approvals |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop net metering | Factories, offices, institutions, homes | DISCOM application and net meter, electrical inspection, ALMM modules |
| Green energy open access | Consumers from 100 kW (no limit for captive users) | Open access approval, deemed granted if not decided in 15 days under the 2022 Rules |
| Residential rooftop with subsidy | Households | National portal application, DISCOM feasibility, CFA under PM Surya Ghar |
| PM-KUSUM | Farmers | Application on HAREDA’s PM-KUSUM portal |
Here is some good news: pollution control is light for solar. Solar power through photovoltaic cells is in the White category of CPCB’s classification, and since November 2024 White category units need no consent to establish or operate.
Documents required
Entity papers
- Certificate of incorporation or firm registration
- PAN, GST registration, board resolution
- Optional: Udyam registration for MSME benefits
Site and connection
- Land title, lease or roof rights
- Latest electricity bill and sanctioned load
- Single-line diagram and layout from the EPC contractor
Equipment
- ALMM model numbers for modules, and cells where required
- Inverter and meter specifications
- Structural certificate for rooftops from a qualified engineer
How it works
Choose the route and the entity
We map your project to net metering, open access or a scheme, and set up the owning entity. Investors often hold a ground-mounted plant in an SPV, which means registering a private limited company or an LLP.
Secure the site rights
We review the title, lease or roof-use arrangement, since every authority and lender will ask for it.
Apply to the DISCOM or agency
DHBVN covers south Haryana, including Faridabad and Gurugram, and UHBVN covers the north. We file the application, track feasibility and reply to queries.
Check ALMM compliance
Before the purchase order, we check the module and cell models against MNRE’s current ALMM lists. In practice, this is where projects slip: a cheaper quote turns out to use a model that is not listed.
Coordinate inspection and commissioning
Your contractor completes the work, the Electrical Inspector inspects as the safety regulations require, and the DISCOM installs the meter.
Keep the file alive
We maintain approvals, scheme claims and the compliance record, and prepare a bankable project report if you are borrowing.
Timelines
Green energy open access
Approval within 15 days of application, or it is treated as granted, under the 2022 Rules.
ALMM List-II for cells
Applies from 1 June 2026, subject to MNRE’s clarifications for investments already made. List-I for modules has applied since 2021.
Lock the basics before ordering
Settle the route, entity and ALMM check before signing the EPC contract.
What happens if you skip an approval
The DISCOM refuses connection
Without a sanctioned application and a completed inspection, the plant cannot be connected under net metering or open access.
Benefits fall away
Non-ALMM equipment can disqualify a net metering, open access or scheme-backed project, and with it any subsidy.
Finance gets stuck
A lender will not disburse against a plant whose entity documents, site rights or DISCOM approvals are incomplete.
Frequently asked questions
Does Taxhint design or install solar plants?
No. We handle the approvals side only. Your EPC contractor designs and installs the plant, a qualified engineer certifies the structure, and the Electrical Inspector carries out inspection. Our job is the entity set-up, documents, applications to DHBVN, UHBVN or HAREDA, portal filings, follow-up and the compliance file after commissioning.
Do I need pollution consent for a solar plant?
No, for a photovoltaic plant. CPCB’s classification places solar power generation through photovoltaic cells in the White category. Under MoEFCC’s November 2024 decision, White category activities need no consent to establish or consent to operate. Other approvals, such as building or land permissions, may still apply to your site, and we check those for you.
What is ALMM and does it apply to me?
ALMM is MNRE’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. List-I covers solar modules and List-II covers solar cells. They are mandatory for government projects, government-assisted projects, scheme projects, open access and net metering projects. List-II applies from 1 June 2026, subject to MNRE’s transition clarifications. We check your models before you place the order.
What is the minimum size for green energy open access?
The minimum is 100 kW for non-captive consumers under the Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022, down from 1 MW earlier. Captive consumers have no minimum. An open access application must be decided within 15 days, failing which it is treated as approved. Open access charges are set by HERC, and we file the application and track it to approval.
Should I set up a separate company for the plant?
For a plant that sells power or brings in outside investors, a separate company or SPV is common. It keeps the plant’s assets, loans and contracts apart from your main business, and makes due diligence easier for lenders. For a rooftop plant on your own factory, the existing entity usually owns it. We advise on the structure and handle incorporation on the MCA V3 portal.
Is there a subsidy for factory rooftop solar?
Not under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which is for residential households. That scheme gives central assistance of 60% of cost for systems up to 2 kW and 40% for the part between 2 and 3 kW, with assistance capped at 3 kW. For businesses, the case rests on lower power bills. We check any state scheme that applies before you budget.
Which DISCOM do I apply to in Haryana?
It depends on where the plant is. Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) covers south Haryana, including Faridabad and Gurugram. Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) covers the north. Your latest electricity bill shows your DISCOM and account number, which go on the application. We file and follow up with the right circle office.
Can farmers get help through PM-KUSUM in Haryana?
Yes. PM-KUSUM is implemented in Haryana by HAREDA, which runs a dedicated portal and helpline for the scheme. It is mainly used for solar water pumps and solarising farm power. Eligibility, quotas and the farmer’s share are set by HAREDA in each round, so check the live notice. We help with the application and documents.
How long does the approval process take?
It depends on the route. Green energy open access has a 15-day deemed-approval rule under the 2022 Rules. Net metering timelines are set by HERC’s regulations and the DISCOM’s workload, and inspection depends on when your contractor finishes. We start the entity and DISCOM work while design is still under way. We give you a dated plan at the start.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government charges depend on the route: DISCOM application and metering charges, open access charges set by HERC, and inspection fees. We list the ones that apply to your project in the quote.
Ready to begin?
Tell us the site, the load and how you plan to use the power, and we will map every approval your solar plant needs.