Bengal emerges as frontrunner in green job potential with policy action needed for renewable energy growth
Times of India | 8 January 2026
KOLKATA: Bengal has emerged as eastern India’s frontrunner in green job potential, according to the latest report by iFOREST, an environmental think tank. The report highlights the state as a key beneficiary of India’s clean energy transition, provided it moves swiftly on policy and implementation.
The report argues that speed and policy coherence will be decisive in determining how many green jobs Bengal ultimately creates. A faster rollout of renewable energy (RE), supported by clear regulations, skilled workforce development, green manufacturing, and robust local supply chains, could unlock large-scale employment across solar, wind, energy storage, green hydrogen, energy efficiency, electric mobility, and allied services. Delays, however, could slow job creation while also undermining emissions reduction targets.
West Bengal was once an early mover in renewables, piloting solar mini-grids in the Sundarbans and commissioning projects such as the Jamuria solar plant. Yet, momentum stalled. By April 2024, the state’s installed renewable capacity stood at just 640 MW, accounting for 0.4% of India’s total RE capacity. Capacity addition was minimal since 2019, and compliance with Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs) remained low—15.9% in 2022–23, the iFOREST report noted.
Analysts attributed the lag to a combination of national policy design that favoured high-solar-resource states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, and internal policy inertia. The state continues to rely heavily on coal-based power, even as electricity demand rises steadily.
“Looking ahead, Bengal’s electricity demand is projected to grow by 5% annually in the utility sector and a steep 19% in the captive segment. RPO targets are set to rise from 29.9% in 2024–25 to 43.3% by 2029–30, creating significant demand for clean power. This could translate into an estimated 15.4 GW of RE capacity by 2026–27 and 24.3 GW by 2031–32—far above current levels,” said Mandvi Singh, Programme Director, Energy Policy, iFOREST, during a capacity-building workshop at Bhubaneswar.
The state has taken some corrective steps. Govt tenders for rooftop solar, plans for a 900 MW pumped hydro storage project, and new policies covering bioenergy, green hydrogen, electric vehicles, and RE manufacturing were rolled out in 2023. In December 2023, the state notified its Green Hydrogen Policy, targeting steel, fertiliser, and sponge iron industries, with incentives such as exemptions on land conversion fees, stamp duty, and electricity duty.
However, the report cautions that incentives alone may not be enough. Renewable power procurement remains a bottleneck, especially as interstate transmission charge waivers may not be available indefinitely. Weak private-sector participation, limited land availability, an expired 2012 renewable policy, and capacity constraints within state agencies like WBREDA and WBGEDCL continue to hamper progress.
Nationally, renewable expansion between 2013–14 and 2018–19 created nearly 80,000 jobs, but over 70% were concentrated in just six states. The next phase of green growth is expected to be broader. A joint Sattva–Skill Council for Green Jobs study estimates up to 35 million green jobs by 2047, spanning waste management, EVs, sustainable textiles, and green construction.
For West Bengal, with its strong industrial base, ports, MSMEs, and urban clusters, the opportunity is substantial. The report concludes that aligning renewable targets with skilling, grid upgrades, MSME participation, and just-transition planning could allow Bengal to finally convert its potential into jobs—firmly placing the state in India’s next phase of green growth.
High Renewable Energy Procurement Potential in Eastern India
State-wise Projected Contracted Capacity Mix for Utility Demand by 2029–30 (MW)
| State | Coal | Hydro | Solar | Wind | DRE | PSP | Battery | | | Total |