Tripura Targets 500 MW Renewable Capacity by 2030

Agartala: Tripura is chasing a 500 MW renewable energy target by 2030. Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced the goal on September 10 at a workshop in Agartala. The state currently produces 58.76 MW of renewable power. It aims to grow this footprint significantly over the next four years.

Officials launched the Tripura Clean Energy Roadmap 2035, the TREAT initiative, and the Unnayan green skilling program. These efforts intend to meet the state's rising energy demand. Current demand sits at 380 MW. It will hit 520 MW by 2030 and 800 MW by 2035. Tripura currently exports 190 MW of electricity to Bangladesh. Load-shedding is now a thing of the past.

The plan relies on rooftop solar, ground-mounted plants, micro-grids, and floating solar projects. The government will also explore green hydrogen and battery storage. PM-KUSUM has already installed 9,401 solar pumps for farmers across 18,802 acres, with 1,709 more on the way. PM-DevINE and PM-JANMAN schemes provide solar power to over 11,000 families.

Manpower is the engine for this growth. The UTSA program, involving TREDA, TRLM, and TSECL, provides technical training for ITI graduates and women. "UTSA creates skilled manpower while rooftop solar programmes create the market," Nath said. The initiative plans to train over 1,000 workers to handle maintenance and solar installations.

Infrastructure is also getting a major overhaul. Workers will shift Agartala’s entire power distribution network underground. The project costs over Rs 1,500 crore. Tenders are finalized. Work starts after the elections. Agartala will gain a smart grid featuring SCADA integration and fiber optics. ADB and other partners are supporting this push for a self-sufficient energy sector.