Chhattisgarh eyes ₹5.6 lakh crore energy investments, targets 15 GW green capacity by 2030

Chhattisgarh is seeking investments of ₹5.60 lakh crore in its energy sector over the next five years, with a target to increase its green energy capacity to 15,000 MW by 2030, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Monday.

Addressing the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Sai invited investors and industry leaders to participate in the state's energy expansion plans. The four-day summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being attended by representatives from more than 130 countries.

Of the proposed investments, ₹1.33 lakh crore is earmarked for renewable energy projects with a combined proposed capacity of 23,923 MW, while around ₹3.27 lakh crore is envisaged for expanding thermal power generation capacity, according to an official statement.

The state aims to increase the share of green energy in its overall electricity demand from the current 15% to more than 45% by 2030. Chhattisgarh currently has more than 28,000 MW of coal-based thermal power capacity and plans to expand its energy infrastructure through a mix of solar, hydroelectric, biomass and energy storage projects.

₹65,000 crore pumped storage opportunity

Highlighting opportunities in energy storage, Sai said 10 pumped-storage hydroelectric projects with a combined capacity of 12,300 MW have been identified, involving a proposed investment of around ₹65,000 crore.

The state also plans to install battery energy storage systems with a capacity of 10,000 MWh over the next two years. A 40 MW/120 MWh battery storage system linked to a 100 MW solar project is already operational in Rajnandgaon.

Chhattisgarh has also installed around 1.26 lakh solar power units under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Another 1.66 lakh solar-powered irrigation pumps are being used across nearly 1.94 lakh hectares of agricultural land. The state plans to set up solar power plants with a combined capacity of 395 MW under the PM-KUSUM scheme.

CBG, nuclear energy among investment opportunities

The state is also looking to tap agricultural waste, cow dung and other bio-resources for compressed biogas, bio-ethanol and green hydrogen production.

Eight compressed biogas plants with a combined capacity of 80 metric tonnes are planned at an estimated investment of ₹800 crore. Private investment proposals worth around ₹6,000 crore in the segment are also being processed.

Separately, the state has envisaged investments of around ₹1.60 lakh crore in energy projects, including nuclear power plants with a proposed capacity of 4,200 MW.