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Solar O&M market in India: 75 GW under contract, professionalising fast

India's solar O&M market crossed 75 GW under formal contract in 2026, growing 22% year-over-year. Specialised O&M providers (Mahindra Susten, Tata Power, Sterling and Wilson) dominate utility-scale; OEM-led O&M emerging for newer plants. Per-MW annual O&M cost has stabilised at ₹3–5 lakh.

By Pruthvi A.··1 min read

In 50 words: India's solar O&M market crossed 75 GW under formal contract in 2026, growing 22% year-over-year. Specialised O&M providers dominate utility-scale; OEM-led O&M emerging for newer plants. Per-MW annual O&M cost has stabilised at ₹3–5 lakh — converging across competitive offerings.

Market shape

Indian solar O&M under formal contract by service provider type (2026):

  • Independent O&M specialists: 48% (Mahindra Susten, Tata Power Solar, Sterling and Wilson Solar)
  • IPP self-O&M (developer-owned): 35%
  • OEM-led O&M (module/inverter manufacturers): 15%
  • DISCOM-led: 2%

Service evolution

O&M scope has expanded from basic preventive maintenance to:

  • Predictive analytics on inverter, module, and string-level monitoring
  • Robotic cleaning programs (Rajasthan/Gujarat especially)
  • Vegetation management and module-level visual inspection drones
  • Performance ratio guarantees built into contracts

Pricing convergence

Annual O&M cost per MW:

  • Tier 1 utility-scale with comprehensive scope: ₹4.5–5.0 lakh/MW
  • Tier 1 utility-scale, basic scope: ₹3.0–3.5 lakh/MW
  • Standalone large rooftop: ₹6–8 lakh/MW (higher due to access and structure complexity)

Pricing has compressed roughly 8% over 2024–2026 as the market matured and competition intensified.

What developers should think about

For new project procurement, evaluate O&M as a 25-year decision, not a single-year contract:

  • O&M contract structures: performance-based vs cost-plus vs fixed-fee
  • Spare parts inventory and supply chain commitments
  • Software platforms used — switching cost is meaningful
  • KPIs in contract: performance ratio, availability, response time

What to watch next

OEM-led O&M (module + inverter suppliers offering bundled long-term O&M with their equipment sales) is growing. If Sungrow, Huawei, and Tier 1 module suppliers continue expanding O&M offerings, the independent O&M provider market could compress.

Researched and drafted with AI assistance; reviewed and edited by the named editor within 24 hours of draft.

Sources