Reported by Mrinal Kanti Banik
Agartala: Tripura has set a target of achieving 500 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with plans to expand rooftop solar installations, develop electricity storage infrastructure and shift thousands of drinking water pumps to solar power, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) Managing Director Biswajit Basu said on Wednesday.
Speaking at an event marking World Standards Day 2026 at the TSECL corporate office in Agartala, Basu emphasised the need to make clean energy more accessible and affordable, modernise the state’s power infrastructure and expand renewable energy generation to meet rising electricity demand.
The programme was jointly organised by the Indian Buildings Congress (IBC), Tripura State Chapter, and TSECL under the theme “A Shared Vision for a Better World: Affordable and Clean Energy”.
Basu said reliable and affordable electricity was essential for economic growth and social development. He added that ensuring energy security for future generations would require greater adoption of clean energy sources and wider access to electricity.
He also highlighted the growing demand for power amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and other modern technologies. According to Basu, increasing renewable energy capacity would help meet future electricity requirements while reducing additional pressure on the environment.
Rooftop solar expansion planned
Outlining Tripura’s solar energy initiatives, Basu said the state currently has around 17 MW of installed rooftop solar capacity.
A proposal to install rooftop solar systems with a combined capacity of 150 MW across 1.5 lakh households is under consideration, he said.
TSECL is also planning to develop electricity storage infrastructure with a capacity of around 200 MWh at the 33-kV level to strengthen the state’s power system.
In another initiative, the corporation intends to convert more than 5,000 drinking water pumps to solar-powered systems, reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources.
Basu added that TSECL was working to train local youths in solar energy technology to build technical skills and support the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure.
Focus on modernising power infrastructure
Basu said power distribution companies must prioritise technological upgrades, energy efficiency and reliable service delivery while maintaining financial sustainability.
He stressed that these measures would be crucial to supporting Tripura’s transition towards cleaner energy and meeting the state’s growing power requirements.
The event was attended by IBC national president engineer Chinmoy Debnath, Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission chairman Hemanta Verma, National Institute of Technology Agartala associate professor Shubhadeep Bhattacharya, former IBC Tripura State Centre president R K Majumdar, TSECL general manager Swapan Debbarma and IBC Tripura State Chapter president Bimal Das.
Bhattacharya and Debbarma delivered the keynote addresses, while discussions focused on expanding clean energy adoption, upgrading power infrastructure and the importance of effective standards in promoting environmentally sustainable development.