Himachal to set up 500 MW solar power projects in next two years: CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said the Himachal Pradesh government has set a target to establish 500 MW of solar power projects within the next two years, as part of its commitment to make the state self-reliant in the energy sector.

He said the government aims to meet over 90 per cent of the state’s energy requirement through renewable sources and transform Himachal Pradesh into a Green Energy State by March 2026. At present, the state’s annual energy consumption stands at around 13,000 million units, the Chief Minister added.

Sukhu said the state has witnessed a significant shift towards solar energy owing to the green initiatives taken by the government. Under the Green Panchayat Programme, gram panchayats have been placed at the centre of the initiative, with 500 kW ground-mounted solar power projects proposed in panchayats across the state.

In the first phase, approval has been granted for setting up 500 kW solar power plants in 24 gram panchayats, of which work has already commenced in 16 panchayats. Under this programme, a total solar generation target of 150 MW has been set.

Highlighting ongoing projects, the Chief Minister said the Pekhubela solar power project in Una district began commercial operations on April 15, 2024, and has so far generated 79.03 million units of electricity, earning revenue of Rs 22.91 crore. The Aghlour solar power project, which started power generation on May 21, 2025, has produced 5.89 million units, while the Bhanjal solar power project, operational since November 30, 2024, has generated 8.57 million units, earning Rs 3.10 crore so far.

Sukhu said three solar power projects with a combined capacity of 31 MW are currently under execution, while four projects totalling 41 MW are at the tendering stage. He added that under the ‘first come, first served’ policy, solar projects ranging from 250 kW to 5 MW are being allotted, with the electricity generated to be purchased by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL).

So far, 547 investors have been allotted ground-mounted solar power projects with a total capacity of 595.97 MW, while Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) have been signed for projects aggregating 403.09 MW, he said.

“Through these initiatives, the state government is steadily moving towards its vision of making Himachal Pradesh a leading Green Energy State in the country by 2026,” the Chief Minister reiterated.

Read Also : Shimla News : Holiday season buzz returns as tourists begin flocking to Shimla