Bhubaneswar: Marking a pivotal moment in the state’s green energy transition, Odisha has crossed a major milestone by elevating its cumulative installed solar energy capacity beyond 1,100 megawatts. This production surge is backed by aggressive deployment across utility-scale, industrial, and public installations, including high-profile clean energy transitions at vital state facilities like the recent solar expansion at Lok Bhavan. At the center of this rapid technological and environmental transformation is the dual administrative leadership of the Department of Energy and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (E&IT), led by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Shri Vishal Kumar Dev.
Under this unified administrative push, Odisha has introduced the highest domestic solar installation subsidy in the country to fast-track the adoption of the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. Making a resounding appeal to citizens across the state to embrace residential rooftop solar systems, ACS Shri Vishal Kumar Dev emphasized that widespread public adoption is the definitive path forward to achieve a sustainable and Green Odisha.
To lower financial barriers for local families, the state has designed an unprecedented financial support structure. For a standard 3-kilowatt rooftop solar installation, residential consumers in Odisha receive a central government subsidy of 78,000 rupees, which is now augmented by a state government top-up subsidy of 60,000 rupees. This cumulative assistance of 1,38,000 rupees establishes Odisha as a national frontrunner in residential clean energy affordability. The initiative serves a dual purpose by advancing state-level energy conservation goals while directly reducing monthly electricity expenses for local families.
Beyond residential rooftops, the administration is focusing heavily on land-use efficiency and pioneering tech-driven clean energy solutions. Highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of modern renewable frameworks, ACS Shri Vishal Kumar Dev noted that the state is actively developing an Agricultural Photovoltaics (AgriPV) policy. This upcoming framework will allow the cultivation of crops beneath or alongside solar panels, enabling simultaneous food and energy production. According to the administration, AgriPV offers a unique opportunity to enhance farmers’ earnings while significantly strengthening the regional energy security matrix.
The state’s green energy roadmap also includes diversification into floating solar projects on industrial reservoirs and the integration of battery energy storage systems to stabilize grid transmission. By combining maximum financial incentives for citizens with modern tech-integrated energy policies, the departments under Shri Vishal Kumar Dev are systematically accelerating Odisha’s transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.