Eastern India is emerging as a high-growth region for renewable energy, driven by rising industrial demand, enabling state policies, and expanding infrastructure, industry leaders said during a high-level dialogue on clean energy transition held in Kolkata.
The conference, jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and CRISIL, in partnership with AMPIN Energy Transition and Sumitomo Corporation India, brought together policymakers, regulators, utilities, developers, and commercial and industrial (C&I) stakeholders to discuss pathways for accelerating renewable energy deployment in the region.
Region Ready for Scale, But Grid Bottlenecks Remain
Delivering the inaugural address, Arun Goyal, former Secretary to the Government of India and former Member of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), stressed that scaling renewable capacity must go hand-in-hand with grid strengthening.
“If Eastern India has to convert its renewable potential into reliable industrial power, connectivity must be prioritised. Without modernised intrastate transmission networks and private sector involvement, even the most advanced solar or wind installations will fall short for C&I consumers,” he said.
Industry Investment Momentum Accelerating
Pinaki Bhattacharyya, Co-Chair, FICCI Renewable Energy CEOs Committee and Founder & CEO of AMPIN Energy Transition, noted growing investor confidence as state-level policies become more supportive.
“Renewables have become one of the most cost-efficient power options for C&I customers. With penetration still between 1–18%, the growth potential is enormous,” Bhattacharyya said, adding that AMPIN has committed ₹5,000 crore across six eastern states.
He stated that clean energy adoption is shifting from compliance-driven to strategic and cost-advantaged. “C&I customers today are aiming for 100% green power through models such as Open Access and VPPA,” he added.
States Strengthen Policies to Attract Adoption
Representing the utility perspective, Syedain Abbasi, Chairman of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, noted that states in the eastern region are expanding rooftop solar programs, enabling storage ecosystems, and strengthening grid infrastructure.
“The energy transition is no longer aspirational — it is accelerating. Technology, policy reform, and rising industrial ambitions are driving real-time change,” he said.
Grid Flexibility and Storage Will Define the Next Phase
Sanjiv Shrivastava, ED (Commercial), Damodar Valley Corporation, highlighted that renewable expansion must be complemented by storage systems, smart grid operations, and flexible load management.
“Eastern India now stands at a pivotal moment where rising RE capacity must converge with storage technologies to manage variability between daytime and evening peaks,” he said.
C&I Segment to Lead India’s Low-Carbon Industrial Shift
Former Power Secretary Alok Kumar stated that C&I consumers are emerging as the key force behind India’s clean energy transformation.
“For India’s energy transition to accelerate, C&I consumers must lead—not only for sustainability but also competitiveness and compliance,” he said, adding that emerging models such as Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) and grid-integrated storage will unlock scale in the East.
Regulatory Direction Moving Toward Flexibility and Digitalization
S. K. Chatterjee, Chief, Regulatory Affairs, CERC, emphasized that the future energy system will rely on flexible demand, distributed generation, and digital tools.
“India’s renewable future will be shaped by smart grids, VPPs, and responsive demand. Supportive regulation and advancing technology will help Eastern India evolve into an investment-ready clean energy marketplace,” he said.
Regional Utilities Signal Strong Alignment
Dr. Satyapriya Rath, Managing Director, GRIDCO, said the East, historically known for conventional power, is now transitioning toward flexible and renewable generation.
“Collaboration among utilities, developers, industries, and regulators will be critical to unlock large-scale adoption,” he said.
Outlook: Strong Policy Signals and Growing Demand Create a Turning Point
According to market insights shared by Pranav Master, Director, Energy and Sustainability, CRISIL, the eastern region is gaining traction as industries prioritise ESG aligned procurement and long-term energy cost predictability.
“With rising demand, stronger transmission networks, and favourable state frameworks, Eastern India is on the brink of major renewable expansion,” he said.
FICCI: Clean Energy Shift Entering Execution Stage
Closing the event, FICCI Director Arpan Gupta stated that the eastern region is now aligning policy, industry ambition, and technological readiness at an unprecedented pace.
“With growing open access, emerging gigafactories, and rising energy demand, Eastern India is set to become one of India’s fastest-growing renewable energy markets over the next decade,” Gupta said.
Discover more from SolarQuarter
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
