Andhra Pradesh Strengthens Its Position as a Green Energy Hub

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi has praised Andhra Pradesh for its rapid progress in the renewable energy sector, describing the state as a role model for rooftop solar implementation. Speaking at a plenary session on energy resilience, clean technologies and global partnerships during the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on Friday, he appreciated the state for installing rooftop solar systems in 7.86 lakh households in a record time. He said the achievement was made under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and State Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar, exceeding the initial target of 5 lakh households. Joshi also commended the state’s power department for restoring electricity supply within 24 hours after cyclone-related disruptions. He noted that India’s solar power capacity had increased from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 175 GW, while 6.6 million households had benefited from the PM Surya Ghar scheme.

On the occasion, the Andhra Pradesh government exchanged 17 Memorandums of Understanding with energy companies for investments worth Rs. 43,871 crore. Government orders were also issued for three additional projects. The proposed investments are expected to generate direct employment for around 4,700 people. Major investors include Saras Infrastructure, Texol CGS Green Ammonia, Sunshore Energy, BLE Renewables and Acaya Energy, among others. State Energy Department Special Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand said Andhra Pradesh was targeting 160 GW of green energy generation under its Integrated Clean Energy Policy and had already approved projects with a combined capacity of 114.25 GW. He also announced that the Centre had given in-principle approval for setting up a Green Hydrogen Valley in Amaravati. State Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar and representatives from national and international energy organisations attended the session.