CHHATTISGARH has shown steady growth in the renewable energy sector, with its total installed non-conventional power capacity reaching 3,246.93 MW in the current financial year. Over the past five years, the State has nearly doubled its capacity, reflecting consistent expansion, especially in solar and biomass segments. Biomass remains another key strength for Chhattisgarh, contributing 1,327.09 MW, making it one of the better-performing states in this segment. This strong base has played a crucial role in supporting the state’s renewable energy growth. Looking at the year-wise trend, the state started with a total capacity of 1,633.89 MW in FY 2020–21. At that time, biomass dominated with 1,089.32 MW, while solar stood at 370.80 MW and small hydro at 145.52 MW. Bagasse contributed 28.25 MW, while wind and other sources had no presence. In FY 2021–22, total capacity increased to 1,938.21 MW. Solar rose to 436.56 MW and biomass to 1,307.27 MW, showing strong growth. Small hydro also improved to 185.67 MW, but bagasse declined sharply to 8.70 MW. The growth continued in FY 2022–23, with total capacity reaching 2,003.05 MW. Solar saw a major jump to 635.42 MW, while biomass slightly declined to 1,194.60 MW. Small hydro stood at 155.92 MW and bagasse improved to 17.10 MW. In FY 2023–24, the state recorded a significant rise, with total capacity increasing to 2,477.44 MW. Solar expanded rapidly to 943.75 MW and biomass rose again to 1,368.61 MW. Small hydro remained almost stable at 145.54 MW, while bagasse reached 19.54 MW. A major leap was seen in FY 2024–25, when total capacity surged to 3,225.93 MW. Solar crossed the 1,500 MW mark at 1,523.27 MW, while biomass also peaked at 1,543.26 MW.

 

Small hydro slightly declined to 139.34 MW and bagasse remained low at 20.05 MW. In FY 2025–26, total capacity increased marginally to 3,246.93 MW. Solar further rose to 1,671.91 MW, becoming the largest contributor. Biomass declined to 1,327.09 MW, while small hydro improved significantly to 240.35 MW. Bagasse dropped sharply to 7.58 MW, and wind and wasteto-energy remained at zero. At the national level, India’s total renewable energy capacity stands at 2,83,621.23 MW, which places Chhattisgarh’s contribution at a relatively small level. In solar energy, the state’s 1,671.91 MW is far behind Rajasthan’s 54,226.99 MW, Gujarat’s 23,245.13 MW and Karnataka’s more than 16,000 MW. Even Madhya Pradesh, within the same region, has a higher solar capacity of 7,274.96 MW. In biomass, Chhattisgarh holds a comparatively strong position, as many states have limited capacity in this segment. However, in small hydro, the state’s 240.35 MW is lower than Himachal Pradesh’s 2,605.70 MW and Karnataka’s 2,734.32 MW. Odisha (589.35 MW) and Uttarakhand (323.95 MW) also report higher figures. The state continues to record zero capacity in wind energy, while leading states such as Gujarat (31,404.95 MW), Tamil Nadu (23,699.39 MW) and Karnataka (17,811.83 MW) dominate this segment. Similarly, there is no contribution in waste-to-energy, unlike Delhi (446.17 MW) and West Bengal (1,334.66 MW). Bagasse-based power generation in Chhattisgarh remains low at 7.58 MW, compared to Uttar Pradesh (2,048.91 MW) and Maharashtra (3,044.52 MW). Overall, while Chhattisgarh has built a stable base in solar and biomass, its total capacity remains lower than states like Madhya Pradesh (12,328.10 MW) and Maharashtra (21,698.56 MW), highlighting the gap with larger renewable energy producers. Experts believe that while Chhattisgarh’s growth in solar and biomass is encouraging, the absence of wind and waste-to-energy sectors limits its overall potential.