The best of both worlds — grid savings with battery backup. Everything you need to know about hybrid solar: components, 2026 prices, net metering, the PM Surya Ghar subsidy and how it keeps your home powered 24/7, designed and installed end to end by Clans Machina.
A hybrid solar system — a grid-tied setup with a battery — powers your home by day, stores the surplus for the evening, exports what is left for credits, and keeps the lights on even when the grid goes down.
Unlike a plain on-grid system, a hybrid keeps a battery charged. When the grid fails, your home switches over instantly and runs on stored solar — true 24/7 power.
You self-consume first, charge the battery next, and export the rest for net-metering credits. The result: maximum bill savings without sacrificing backup security.
A grid-connected set-up with battery storage that combines the savings of on-grid solar with the reliable backup of off-grid — the best of both technologies in one system.
A hybrid system runs in sync with the utility grid like an on-grid system, but adds a battery so surplus solar can be stored instead of only exported. During the day your panels power the home, top up the battery and send any extra to the grid for credits. In the evening — or during a power cut — the battery takes over, so you are never left in the dark. Every hybrid system is built from these core building blocks:
Let’s break the system down component by component so you understand the role each one plays.
Made of solar cells — monocrystalline, polycrystalline or bifacial (cells on front and rear). They convert sunlight into DC power; the key during installation is making sure no shadows fall on them.
The brain of the system. A single smart inverter intelligently routes power between your home, the battery and the grid — charging storage when there is surplus and switching to backup the instant the grid drops.
Stores surplus solar for use after sunset and during outages. Modern lithium (LFP) batteries offer long life, deep discharge and compact size, while lead-acid remains a lower-cost option.
A net meter records electricity flowing both ways — the units you export to the grid and the units you import. Your bill is calculated on the net of the two, the heart of net metering.
Holds everything in place. A good structure keeps panels at the right tilt — near-perpendicular to the sun for as long as possible — and is engineered to survive local wind and weather conditions.
Specialised DC & AC cables, combiner boxes, MC4 connectors plus the safety essentials — earthing, surge protection and a lightning arrester — that carry power safely and protect your home.
It is the single component that lets your roof, your battery and the grid work as one.
Because a hybrid system adds a battery and a smarter inverter, it costs more than a plain on-grid system of the same capacity — but in return you get uninterrupted power and complete energy independence.
From a photon hitting a panel to a battery that carries you through the night — here is the full journey.
Photovoltaic cells in the panels absorb sunlight and convert it directly into direct current (DC) electricity throughout the day.
The hybrid inverter converts the solar DC to clean AC and powers your appliances instantly — your home always uses its own free solar power first.
Once your home is powered, any surplus is used to charge the battery bank — storing free daytime solar for use in the evening.
When the battery is full and the home is powered, the leftover units are exported to the grid through the net meter for export credits.
In the evening your home runs on the stored battery power first, drawing from the grid only if the battery is depleted — offset by your export credits.
If the grid fails, the hybrid inverter switches to battery power in milliseconds, so your essential loads keep running without interruption.
Because a hybrid system is grid-connected, the solar portion qualifies for the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana central subsidy — a direct bank transfer once your system is commissioned.
| System Size | Central Subsidy (PM Surya Ghar)* |
|---|---|
| 1 kW rooftop system | ₹30,000 |
| 2 kW rooftop system | ₹60,000 |
| 3 kW & above (capped) | ₹78,000 |
*Central subsidy under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana applies to the grid-connected solar capacity for residential rooftop systems; the battery is not separately subsidised. Several states add their own top-up. Clans Machina handles the full subsidy application and inspection paperwork for you.
Price depends on the system capacity, the battery size, the type of panels and the brand of inverter. The battery adds to the cost versus on-grid — but the subsidy on the solar portion brings the net figure down.
| System Size (with battery) | Indicative Price (before subsidy)* |
|---|---|
| 1 kW hybrid system | ₹1,00,000 |
| 2 kW hybrid system | ₹1,75,000 |
| 3 kW hybrid system | ₹2,50,000 |
| 5 kW hybrid system | ₹3,90,000 |
| 7.5 kW hybrid system | ₹5,60,000 |
| 10 kW hybrid system | ₹7,20,000 |
*Indicative pricing only, before subsidy, and inclusive of a standard battery bank. Final figures vary with battery capacity, brand, roof conditions and location. After the PM Surya Ghar subsidy your net cost is lower — request a free Clans Machina quote for an exact, itemised estimate.
A hybrid system pays you back in both rupees and reliability — four numbers tell the story.
The battery adds cost, so payback is a little longer than on-grid — but you also save on diesel/inverter backup you would otherwise need.
Self-consumption plus net metering offsets the vast majority of your usage, routinely cutting monthly bills by 80–90%.
The battery keeps essential loads running through every outage — the reliability a plain on-grid system simply cannot offer.
Panels carry a 25-year performance warranty (batteries typically 8–15 years), giving you decades of low-cost, dependable power.
Put simply: a hybrid system gives you strong bill savings and complete energy security in one package — ideal if your area sees frequent or long power cuts.
Hybrid is the right choice when you want savings and backup — but it is worth weighing both sides before you commit.
The main difference comes down to the battery, the grid connection and how each handles a power cut.
| Feature | Hybrid | On-Grid | Off-Grid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid connection | Yes | Yes | No — standalone |
| Battery storage | Yes | Not required | Required (large bank) |
| Power during outages | Yes — battery backup | No | Yes |
| Government subsidy | Yes (solar portion) | Up to ₹78,000 | Not available |
| Net metering / export | Yes | Yes | No export |
| Typical payback period | About 5–7 years | About 3–4 years | About 5–7 years |
| Best suited for | Homes wanting savings and backup | Homes with a reliable grid | Remote sites with no/poor grid |
If you want the lowest cost and your grid is reliable, an on-grid solar system is ideal. If you are in a remote location with no grid, an off-grid solar system fits best. If you want grid savings plus dependable backup, hybrid is the sweet spot.
From your first call to credits on your bill and backup ready for outages, Clans Machina manages every step end to end.
We assess your roof, shading, consumption and backup needs, then design a system and battery sized to your home — with a detailed savings and subsidy estimate.
We file your PM Surya Ghar subsidy registration and the net-metering application with your discom on your behalf.
Our certified team installs the panels, mounting, hybrid inverter and battery, completes the wiring and commissions the system — typically within 18–27 days.
The discom installs the bi-directional meter, your system and backup go live, and the subsidy is transferred directly to your bank account.
A hybrid solar system is the right call for homes and businesses that want it all — the bill savings and subsidy of on-grid solar combined with the round-the-clock reliability of battery backup. It self-consumes free solar, stores the surplus, earns net-metering credits and keeps your essential loads running through every power cut.
That is exactly where Clans Machina comes in. We design, supply, install and monitor your hybrid system end to end — and handle the subsidy and net-metering paperwork for you — all backed by a 25-year panel performance warranty. Book a free consultation now for an exact, itemised quote.
Before subsidy, hybrid systems (including a battery) start at around ₹1,00,000 for 1 kW and rise with capacity — roughly ₹2,50,000 for 3 kW and ₹7,20,000 for 10 kW. After the PM Surya Ghar subsidy (up to ₹78,000 on the solar portion) your net cost is lower.
Yes, for the grid-connected solar capacity. Residential rooftop systems qualify for the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy — ₹30,000 for 1 kW, ₹60,000 for 2 kW and ₹78,000 for 3 kW and above. The battery itself is not separately subsidised, and several states add their own top-up.
Yes. That is its biggest advantage. When the grid fails, the hybrid inverter switches to the battery within milliseconds, so your essential loads keep running without interruption — something a standard on-grid system cannot do.
Modern lithium (LFP) batteries typically last 10–15 years, while lead-acid lasts around 5–8 years. The solar panels carry a 25-year performance warranty, so the battery is usually the only major component you may replace within the system’s lifetime.
If your grid is reliable and you only want maximum savings at the lowest cost, on-grid is the better value. If you face frequent or long power cuts and want savings plus uninterrupted backup, hybrid is worth the extra investment.
Get a free, no-obligation hybrid design tailored to your roof, consumption and backup needs — with panel count, battery sizing, subsidy estimate and an itemised price all worked out for you.