Parliament Question: Renewable Energy Potential in North Eastern Region

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 660 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026 RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL IN NORTH EASTERN REGION 660. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of the current renewable energy generation and the estimated renewable energy potential of the North-Eastern Region of India, Source and state-wise; (b) whether only about 4-5 GW of renewable energy capacity has been installed in the North Eastern Region (NER) against a potential of nearly 129 GW and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for under-utilisation of the capacity; (c) whether policy uncertainty and withdrawal of State-level clean energy policies have affected investor confidence in Assam and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the details of the targeted measures proposed and the action taken by the Government for storage solutions, small hydro promotion or special incentives to bridge the gap between potential and installed capacity? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK) (a) & (b) The details of source and State-wise renewable energy generation, estimated potential and installed capacity in North-Eastern Region are given in Annexure I. The reasons for under- utilisation of the capacity includes less intense solar irradiation in comparison to other States, geographical constraints such as hilly and uneven terrain/forest lands, less working seasons, low electricity demand, contribute to increased cost for setting up of renewable energy projects and can make the access difficult, making infrastructure development complex and costly. (c) Following two policies have been notified by the Govt. of Assam and are already under force: i. Assam Solar Power Generation Promotion Policy 2025 ii. Assam Pumped Storage Power Generation Promotion Policy 2025 These policies have been able to create ecosystem to boost investor confidence, thereby attracting private and public sector investment in the renewable energy sector of Assam. (d) The details of the targeted measures proposed and the action taken by the Government for storage solutions, small hydro promotion or special incentives to bridge the gap between potential and installed capacity in the Country including in North Eastern Region are given in Annexure II. *****Annexure I: referred in reply of para (a) & (b) of Question no. 660 on the “Renewable Energy Potential in North Eastern Region” to be answered on 22.07.2026 by Shri Joyanta Basumatary Details of Source Wise Renewable Energy Generation in North-Eastern Region (in Million Units): Total RE Renewable Small Large including Name of State/UT Solar Others Energy Year Hydro Hydro Large Total Hydro Arunachal Pradesh 2.37 0.34 0.00 2.70 4854.46 4857.16 Assam 330.12 139.39 0.59 470.09 1424.54 1894.63 Manipur 8.60 0.00 0.00 8.60 576.01 584.61 2025-26 Meghalaya 0.00 159.90 0.00 159.90 879.22 1039.12 Mizoram 29.31 25.51 0.00 54.82 263.98 318.80 Nagaland 97.90 0.00 97.90 0.00 228.33 326.23 Tripura 8.97 8.97 0.00 0.00 0.00 8.97 Sub Total 379.36 423.03 0.59 802.98 8226.54 9029.52 Arunachal Pradesh 0.14 0.01 0.00 0.15 1560.04 1560.19 Assam 65.30 22.85 0.14 88.29 138.98 227.27 Manipur 1.43 0.00 0.00 1.43 52.79 54.22 Meghalaya 0.00 29.85 0.00 29.85 119.87 149.72 Mizoram 6.67 2.87 0.00 9.54 8.72 18.26 2026- Nagaland 5.82 0.00 5.82 0.00 15.83 21.65 27(upto Tripura 0.91 May-26) 0.91 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.91 Sub Total 74.45 61.40 0.14 135.99 1896.23 2032.22The estimated renewable energy potential of the North-Eastern Region of India, Source and state- wise in MW: Sl. Solar Small Waste Large STATES / Wind Biomass No Powe Hydro To Hydro Total RE UTs Power Power . r Power Energy power Arunachal 1 8650 207.60 2064.92 18.46 0.00 50064 61004.98 Pradesh 2 Assam 13760 29.00 201.99 321.89 8.00 650 14970.88 3 Manipur 10630 6.40 99.95 62.31 2.00 1761 12561.66 4 Meghalaya 5860 40.00 230.05 68.54 2.00 2298 8498.59 5 Mizoram 9090 0.00 168.90 2.90 2.00 2131 11394.80 6 Nagaland 7290 0.00 182.18 53.90 0.00 1452 8978.08 7 Sikkim 4940 88.30 266.64 4.73 0.00 4248 9547.67 8 Tripura 2080 0.00 46.86 34.35 2.00 0.00 2163.21 Total 62300 371.30 3261.49 567.08 16.00 62604 129119.87 NER The renewable energy installed capacity of the North-Eastern Region of India, Source and state- wise as on 30.06.2026 in MW: Solar Small Hydro Bio Large Hydro Total RE S. No. STATES / UTs Power Power Power Power Capacity 1 Arunachal Pradesh 15.72 140.61 0.00 2115.00 2271.33 2 Assam 687.90 34.11 8.00 346.00 1076.01 3 Manipur 17.56 5.45 0.00 105.00 128.01 4 Meghalaya 4.28 55.03 13.80 322.00 395.11 5 Mizoram 34.40 45.47 0.00 60.00 139.87 6 Nagaland 3.68 35.07 0.00 75.00 113.75 7 Sikkim 7.56 55.11 0.00 2282.00 2344.67 8 Tripura 42.62 16.01 0.00 00 58.63 Total (MW) 813.72 386.86 21.80 5305.00 6527.38Annexure II: referred in reply of para (d) of Question no. 660 on the “Renewable Energy Potential in North Eastern Region” to be answered on 22.07.2026 by Shri Joyanta Basumatary The details of the targeted measures proposed and the action taken by the Government for storage solutions, small hydro promotion or special incentives to bridge the gap between potential and installed capacity in the North Eastern Region, inter-alia, include the following: • Higher Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 30% of CERC Normative cost or project cost is kept for North Eastern Regions & districts having international borders for setting up of new Small Hydro Power (SHP) Projects of capacity 1 to 25 MW in the “Small Hydro Power Development Scheme for the period FY 2026-27 to 2030-31” as compared to 20% for other locations. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for preparation of new Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) is also kept for identifying and preparing of pipeline of new SHP projects. • Under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, 10% Higher Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of Rs. 33000/kW for first 2 kWp and Rs. 19,800 for third kWp is kept for grid connected rooftop solar projects in the North Eastern Regions for residential sector. Further, for Group Housing Societies/ Residential Welfare Associations (GHS/RWA) etc, for common facilities including EV charging up to 500 kWp (@3 kWp per house) the CFA is kept as Rs 19,800/ kWp. • Under Component-B and Component-C (Individual Pump Solarization) of PM-KUSUM Schemes, higher CFA @ 50% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, kept for NER, Hilly region and Islands (as compared to 30% for other locations) for installing/solarizing the agriculture pumps up to 7.5 HP capacity. For agriculture feeder solarization under component C, CFA of 1.75 Crore/MW for NER/Hilly regions/Island (as compared to Rs 1.05 Crore/MW for other locations) is provided. • New Solar Power Scheme (for Tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects, Small Hydro Power Development Scheme (1 to 25 MW) have been launched. • National Bioenergy Programme supports setting up of Biogas/Compressed Biogas/Power projects by providing 20 % higher Central Financial Assistance in NER compared to other locations. • Under the Solar Park scheme, the Ministry provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of up to Rs. 25 lakh for detailed project reports and up to Rs. 20 lakh per MW (or 30% of the project cost). 20 MW solar park project in Mizoram has been commissioned.• To promote the deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS), the Government has granted storage systems formal legal status and established comprehensive procurement guidelines. Key incentives include waiving Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for up to 12 years- with 100% waivers for specific co-located projects commissioned by June 2028- alongside recommendations to integrate storage capacity equal to at least 10% of solar project capacity in future tenders. Furthermore, the Central Electricity Authority has implemented new safety and construction standards to regulate the technical requirements of BESS infrastructure