C&I segment to create demand for renewable energy capacity in eastern India by 2030: Panel

With strong demand from Commercial and Industrial (C&I) customers, the renewable energy capacities in Eastern India is expected to rise sharply by 2030 said a FICC-Crisil led panel. 

 The region is witnessing increasing momentum toward large-scale clean energy adoption, driven by policy focus, improving infrastructure, and rising industrial and commercial demand, the panel said.

Pranav Master, Director, Energy and Sustainability, CRISIL, said “ C&I demand for renewable power is rising steadily across India as companies aim to align with ESG commitments, supply-chain expectations, and cost-competitive power procurement models. Eastern India, with upgrades in transmission capacity and favourable state approaches, is emerging as a promising growth centre.” 

Arun Goyal, former Secretary to Government of India and former member of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) said “If India’s Eastern Region has to transform its renewables potential into reliable industrial power, we must not only build capacity, we must build connectivity. Unless intrastate network bottlenecks are resolved and transmission infrastructure modernised with private participation, even the best-capacitated solar or wind projects cannot deliver for C&I consumers.”

Pinaki Bhattacharyya, Co-Chair, FICCI Renewable Energy CEOs Committee and Founder, CEO & Managing Director, AMPIN Energy Transition, said “Eastern India’s renewable push is gaining traction as more states introduce investor-friendly policies and industries seek to adopt low-carbon operations. The eastern region hosts some of India’s biggest load centres, and renewables are now among the most cost-effective energy sources for C&I customers.”

“With penetration still at 1–18%, the growth opportunity is massive. Our ₹5,000 crore investment outlay across the eastern states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam and Bihar underscores our commitment to powering this transition and strengthening the region’s clean energy future,” he said. 

He noted that across India, RE adoption is increasingly being driven by C&I consumers who are focused on lowering energy costs and improving long-term sustainability.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (Crisil) together with AMPIN Energy Transition and in collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation India, along with key industry leaders recently organised a dialogue to unlock Eastern India’s renewable energy potential.