Karnataka targets 66 GW power by 2030, prioritises clean energy expansion
Karnataka has outlined a roadmap to raise its installed power capacity from more than 39 gigawatts (GW) to 66 GW by 2030, keeping clean energy at the core of the expansion. The plan was presented by Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department Gaurav Gupta at the 'Focus State' session of Bharat Electricity and Indian Utility Week, 2026, held in New Delhi.
Gupta said the State is preparing its power sector to handle rapidly rising electricity demand while strengthening grid infrastructure, energy storage and renewable energy capacity. He described this as a direct contribution to India's national clean energy targets.
Karnataka already has a significant share of green power. According to Gupta, two-thirds of the State's installed capacity comes from clean hydro and renewable sources. This enables the State to meet a substantial portion of its daily electricity demand through green energy. Recent reports have put Karnataka's daily power demand at between 310 million units and 350 million units, compared with 210 million units in August 2025.
The State expects electricity demand to double over the coming decade, driven by industrial expansion, widespread adoption of electric vehicles and the growth of large data centres in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mangaluru. To prepare for this, Karnataka is among the first States to implement a Resource Adequacy Plan approved by the Central Electricity Authority and the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission. Such plans help ensure that adequate generation and storage capacity is available to meet projected demand.
The clean-energy transition will be backed by investments in grid resilience and storage. Karnataka is advancing the 2,000 MW Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project, which will store surplus power by pumping water to a higher reservoir and release it to generate electricity during peak demand. Large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems are also being installed at critical Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) substations to provide greater flexibility to the grid.
On the supply side, the State is expanding the Pavagada Solar Park, one of the largest solar parks in the country, and scaling up wind power capacity. In the agricultural sector, Karnataka is promoting solarisation of farm feeders under the PM-KUSUM Component-C scheme and the Chief Minister Saura Krishi Yojana (CM-SKY), aimed at providing reliable daytime solar power to farmers.
Transmission infrastructure is another focus area. Gupta said KPTCL has achieved ultra-low transmission losses of under 3%, indicating efficient power delivery. The corporation is undertaking the construction of thousands of kilometres of new transmission lines and super-grid substations to integrate additional renewable capacity.
Addressing investors, Gupta said Karnataka will ensure no curtailment of transmission and no delay in payments to power generators, offering greater certainty. The State is encouraging private participation in energy storage and transmission and expects to attract ₹2 lakh crore to ₹3 lakh crore in private investment in the power sector over the next four to five years. He added that the government is responding to investor feedback on land-related regulations and project procedures.
