Bengal committed to meeting 20% energy needs through renewables by 2030: Mantri
Times of India | 17 December 2025
Kolkata: Bengal is committed to meeting 20% of its energy needs through renewables by 2030, disclosed Bengal minister of non-conventional and renewable energy sources Md Ghulam Rabbani on Tuesday. Rabban was speaking at the 15th edition of Energy Conclave 2025 organized by CII Eastern Region in Kolkata on Tuesday.
The minister emphasized that state govt was actively exploring integrated models that combine solar with other renewable resources such as biomass and hybrid systems. With renewables already accounting for 25.1% of state's total energy potential, Rabbani noted that the focus was on making clean energy solutions more accessible and affordable for agricultural, residential and commercial consumers, thereby accelerating Bengal's transition towards a sustainable energy future.
Barun Kumar Ray, additional chief secretary, department of non-conventional and renewable energy sources, highlighted that electricity demand in Bengal was projected to grow steadily, by 5% annually in the utility sector and 19% in the captive segment, over the next two to three decades. Under the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) trajectory set by the Union power ministry, renewable procurement is mandated to rise from 30% to 50% by 2030. For the state, this translates into ambitious targets of 15 GW by 2026 and 25 GW by 2032, creating significant opportunities for investors.