AGARTALA, Sept 10: Tripura has set a target of achieving 500 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 as the state seeks to accelerate its transition to clean energy, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Wednesday.
Nath was speaking at the launch of the Tripura Clean Energy Roadmap, Green Skilling Programme and TREAT Initiative Workshop at Hotel Polo Tower in Agartala.
He said the global energy sector was undergoing a major transformation, with renewable energy, particularly solar power, emerging as an important driver of economic growth, technological innovation, employment generation and sustainable development.
Tripura had so far achieved around 58.76 MW of renewable energy capacity, Nath said, adding that the government was working to significantly expand the state’s clean-energy footprint over the next four years.
The 500 MW target would include rooftop solar installations, green villages, ground-mounted solar plants, solar micro-grids, decentralised renewable energy projects and other off-grid solutions.
Highlighting the government’s UTSA (Unnayan through Transformative Solar Applications) programme, Nath said it aimed to create a skilled workforce to meet the growing requirements of Tripura’s solar energy sector. Under the programme, the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA), in collaboration with the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) and Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), was conducting specialised training, including Suryamitra and Solar PV Technician courses.
Nath said skill development would be crucial to the state’s clean-energy transition, with UTSA expected to create employment opportunities and encourage young people to become entrepreneurs and service providers in the solar sector.
“UTSA creates skilled manpower while rooftop solar programmes create the market,” Nath said, stressing the need for industry, investment and technology to work together to build a sustainable green-energy ecosystem.
Tripura had also expanded solar-powered infrastructure under various central schemes. Under PM-KUSUM, 9,401 solar pumps had been installed, while another 1,709 were under implementation. The installations were benefiting farmers across nearly 18,802 acres, according to the minister.
Solar micro-grids were also providing clean electricity to around 9,762 families under PM-DevINE and 1,703 households under PM-JANMAN, he said.
Nath said the government’s green-skilling initiatives would focus particularly on rural youth, women and SC/ST communities to ensure that the benefits of the renewable-energy transition reached remote and underserved areas.
He said expanding renewable energy would help Tripura reduce its dependence on conventional energy sources while creating new opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and investment.
The minister said the combination of clean-energy projects and trained manpower would be critical to achieving Tripura’s 500 MW renewable-energy target by 2030.
