Kamal Ghorui
Uttarakhand has crossed a major renewable energy milestone, surpassing 1 gigawatt (GW) of installed solar power capacity. The state’s total installed solar capacity now stands at over 1,027.87 megawatts, underlining its growing push towards clean and sustainable energy.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the achievement reflects the Centre’s policy focus on renewable energy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and emphasis on green energy had encouraged states like Uttarakhand to turn solar power into a people-driven movement.According to Dhami, coordinated implementation of central schemes and state-led initiatives has also opened up self-employment opportunities for youth and local entrepreneurs. He expressed confidence that Uttarakhand would further consolidate its position among India’s leading solar energy states in the coming years.The milestone has been achieved through a mix of grid-connected rooftop solar projects, ground-mounted plants, installations on government buildings, solar pumps for agriculture, and solar schemes for domestic, commercial and industrial consumers.Of the total installed capacity, around 397 MW has come from ground-mounted projects, 241 MW from rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, 137 MW under the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme, 110 MW through commercial net metering, 51 MW from captive solar plants, 37 MW from canal-top and canal-bank projects, and 26 MW from solar installations on government buildings.In addition, more than 100 MW is currently being installed under the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme, along with 30 MW from captive solar plants and 13.5 MW on government buildings. These efforts have contributed to reducing carbon emissions, improving energy self-reliance, and generating local employment.The Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) has played a key role in driving solar adoption across the state by implementing projects, providing technical support, raising awareness, and extending solar solutions to remote and mountainous areas.Officials said supportive policies, subsidies, simplified approval processes and incentives for private investment have helped accelerate solar growth. The state government has set further targets to expand solar capacity, deepen outreach in remote regions, and boost public participation as part of its long-term sustainability goals.
