How long does a 5 MW solar plant take to build?

Typical end-to-end: 60–90 days from signed PO. That includes detailed design, structural audit, equipment procurement, civil works, installation, commissioning, and DISCOM net-metering approval. We file the DISCOM application in parallel with civil works, not after — that's the biggest schedule-saver at this size.

What roof area do I actually need for 5 MW?

Around 5,00,000 sqft of shadow-free roof at standard mounting. If the roof is short, we extend with elevated structures over parking or driveways — adds shade for vehicles, doubles up the asset, and at 5 MW the incremental steel cost is usually 4–7% of project cost.

Behind-the-meter vs open access vs group captive — which structure fits at 5 MW?

Three real options at MW scale: (1) behind-the-meter rooftop consumed on-site — simplest, no wheeling charges, needs matching daytime load; (2) open access wheeling from an off-site plant — pays cross-subsidy surcharge and wheeling charges, viable when rooftop is short; (3) group captive with 26% consumer equity in a special-purpose vehicle — exempts from cross-subsidy surcharge, best for consumers with >1 MW connected load. Choice hinges on your daytime consumption profile, not plant size.

How does the group captive 26% equity math work at 5 MW?

Regulation says the consumer must hold at least 26% equity in the SPV that owns the plant and consume at least 51% of its annual generation to qualify as captive. Typical structure: developer holds 74%, consumer holds 26%. The exemption saves cross-subsidy surcharge (Rs. 1–3/unit in most states) plus additional surcharge. Pays back the equity in 2–4 years for a well-matched load. We structure the SPV with your CA and file the CEA captive declaration.

How much do wheeling and cross-subsidy charges eat into the tariff on open access at 5 MW?

Depends on state — this is where the math turns. UP: cross-subsidy surcharge Rs. 1.20–1.80/unit + wheeling Rs. 0.35/unit + banking losses ~2%. Haryana: cross-subsidy Rs. 1.50–2.10/unit + wheeling Rs. 0.42/unit. Delhi does not allow rooftop wheeling. Total open-access delivered cost typically lands Rs. 5.50–6.50/unit versus behind-the-meter LCOE of Rs. 3.20–3.80/unit — behind-the-meter wins wherever the load can absorb it.

For a 5 MW captive plant, does the DISCOM require a substation upgrade at the connection point?

At 5 MW you inject at 33 kV or 66 kV via a dedicated feeder — that's beyond typical LT/HT connection thresholds. The DISCOM sub-station at the connection point needs capacity headroom for reverse power flow; if it's already loaded, they mandate an upgrade at the consumer's cost. Typical upgrade CAPEX: Rs. 40L–1.2Cr depending on transformer sizing and switchgear. We commission a load-flow study with the DISCOM's protection team before finalising the project cost.

How long a PPA does Bridgeway sign at 5 MW under OPEX, and what happens after?

Standard OPEX/PPA at 5 MW is 20–25 years — banks financing the developer side prefer 25 to match panel-warranty tenure. Tariff is fixed with a small escalation (1.5–2%/year) or fully flat at a higher starting number. At end of PPA: consumer either takes ownership at a nominal transfer value (Rs. 1 or salvage), extends the PPA at a re-negotiated tariff, or asks for plant dismantling. We contract-drafted this three ways so you pick at year 20 based on then-market conditions.

Commercial & Industrial · 5 MW

5 MW Solar Power Plant Cost in India — 2026 EPC Guide

No brochure ranges. Live ₹/Wp from our facts registry, a working calculator, and CAPEX vs OPEX math you can stress-test before talking to anyone.

Verified 21 May 2026 · Bridgeway internal C&I project records, 2025–2026

5 MW commercial rooftop solar plant — industrial shed in Delhi NCR

5 MW Solar Plant — At a Glance

Honest ballpark figures for a 5 MW commercial rooftop in India. Final price moves with site, roof type, and grid evacuation distance.

Verified 21 May 2026 · Bridgeway internal C&I project records, 2025–2026

Indicative CAPEX

Rs. 16.00 Cr

Rs. 32/Wp turnkey, all BoS included

Annual generation

7,500 MWh

North India, shadow-free roof

Roof needed

5,00,000 sqft

Shadow-free, RCC or sheet metal

Payback

4–5.5 yrs

At C&I tariff Rs. 8–10/unit

Suitable for

Captive industrial useGroup captiveOpen-access power buyers

5 MW Calculator

Your Numbers, Not a Brochure

Move the sliders. Switch between CAPEX and OPEX. Every number below is sourced live from our facts registry.

Verified 21 May 2026 · Bridgeway internal C&I project records, 2025–2026

Plant capacity

5000 kW

Roof area available

5,00,000 sqft

Enough roof for 5000 kW

Current monthly electricity bill

Rs. 4,00,00,000

Implied tariff: Rs. 12.0/unit

How are you paying?

Indicative project cost

Rs. 16.00 Cr

at Rs. 32/Wp · turnkey, no hidden BoS

Generation

6,00,000 units/mo

7,200 MWh/yr

Monthly bill saving

Rs. 72,00,000

Annual: Rs. 8.64 Cr

Payback

1.9 yrs

25-yr plant life · 22+ yrs of free power after

CAPEX vs OPEX/PPA — Which Fits You?

The honest answer: it depends on your tax position and your appetite for capex. We do both. Here's the side-by-side.

Verified 21 May 2026 · Bridgeway PPA contracts FY25-26

At MW scale the decision expands to group captive and open access.

Beyond Rs. 4Cr project size, three additional structures enter the tradeoff: group captive with 26% consumer equity (exempts cross-subsidy surcharge), open access from an off-site plant (pays wheeling + CSS), and third-party OPEX with a longer PPA. Banks want a Chartered Engineer-certified DPR with 25-year IRR/NPV/DSCR modelling — we ship that as part of the sales cycle rather than as a separate advisory.

CAPEX (you buy)

OPEX / PPA (we own)

Upfront cost

Full CAPEX

Zero — we fund it

Ownership

You own the plant from day one

We own it; transfers after 15 yrs

Effective tariff

~Rs. 2.7–3.6/unit (LCOE)

Fixed Rs. 4–5/unit, 15-yr PPA

Balance-sheet impact

Capitalised asset, depreciation benefit

OPEX line, no debt loaded

Accelerated depreciation (40%)

Best when

Profitable business that wants the IRR

Trust, school, hospital — no capex appetite

From PO to Energised — 60 to 90 days

Four phases. Two of them run in parallel. We never quote "30 days" — that's a sales-call number, not an EPC number.

Site Audit + Engineering

5–7 days

Structural survey, shading analysis, load profile from your last 12 bills, single-line diagram, and DPR sign-off.

Financing + DISCOM Filing

2–3 weeks

Bank/NBFC DPR or PPA paperwork in parallel with net-metering application to your DISCOM. We run both tracks.

Build + Installation

4–8 weeks

Procurement, civil/structural, module mounting, string wiring, inverters, ACDB/DCDB, earthing, SCADA.

Commissioning + Net Meter

2–4 weeks

DISCOM inspector visit, bi-directional meter swap, plant energisation, performance ratio sign-off.

What Actually Breaks at 5 MW

5 MW is a utility-scale asset dressed as a rooftop project. Grid interconnection, group-captive structuring and PPA tenure all become material.

Group captive 26% equity structure

Regulation requires the consumer to hold ≥26% equity in the SPV and consume ≥51% of annual generation to qualify as captive. Typical split: developer 74%, consumer 26%. Exempts cross-subsidy surcharge (Rs. 1–3/unit in most states) and additional surcharge. Equity pays back in 2–4 years for a well-matched load.

Substation upgrade CAPEX at the connection point

5 MW injects at 33 kV or 66 kV via a dedicated feeder. If the DISCOM sub-station is already loaded, they mandate an upgrade at consumer cost: Rs. 40L–1.2Cr depending on transformer sizing and switchgear. We commission a load-flow study with the DISCOM protection team before finalising project cost.

PPA tenure and end-of-life options

Standard OPEX PPA at 5 MW is 20–25 years — bank financing on the developer side prefers 25 to match panel warranty. Tariff either fixed with 1.5–2%/year escalation or fully flat at a higher start. End-of-PPA options: consumer takeover at nominal transfer, PPA extension at re-negotiated tariff, or dismantling. We contract-draft all three so you decide at year 20 based on then-market conditions.

Financing a 5 MW Plant

Most C&I customers don't pay full capex up front. Three routes — bank term loan, NBFC, or OPEX/PPA. We help with the DPR for all three; we don't push a particular lender.

See All Financing Options