West Bengal is witnessing a steady rise in energy demand, a trend expected to continue due to the growing consumption in the residential, industrial, and commercial sectors. Currently, the state’s power supply is predominantly dependent on thermal energy, which accounted for 80% of its total capacity mix in financial year (FY) 25. While renewable energy (RE) sources are beginning to play a larger role in shaping the power sector landscape of West Bengal, the state needs to recalibrate its energy strategy to realise India’s national targets of achieving net-zero emissions and installing 500 gigawatts (GW) of RE capacity by 2030.
With rising energy demand and policy developments that have substantial implications for the state’s power sector, West Bengal— heavily reliant on fossil fuels at present—is bringing in more RE for meeting the future energy demand. The objective of this study was to develop a forward-looking roadmap that can assist West Bengal in integrating a higher share of RE effectively into its generation mix by FY 30. Accordingly, the recommendations focus on facilitating a smooth transition from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives, while ensuring that the future power supply remains affordable, accessible, and reliable. They entail specific measures for the generation and distribution segments of the state’s power sector, aiming to ensure its long-term energy security and enabling it to align with the nation’s net-zero ambitions.
