Chandigarh has experienced dramatic growth in renewable energy capacity over the past decade, with installed capacity rising from 5 MW in 2014-15 to 90 MW by July 2025. This nearly 18-fold increase has been driven primarily by government initiatives rather than significant public participation, according to recent data. Solar power forms the foundation of renewable energy generation in the city, with solar power generation plants now installed on 10,988 buildings across Chandigarh as of July 2025.

The growth trajectory shows consistent year-over-year increases, with capacity reaching 7 MW in 2015-16, 18 MW in 2016-17, 26 MW in 2017-18, 35 MW in 2018-19, 41 MW in 2020-21, 46 MW in 2021-22, 55 MW in 2022-23, 59 MW in 2023-24, and 65 MW in 2024-25.

Government Buildings Lead Solar Adoption

The most significant expansion occurred in government building installations between March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025. During this period, the number of government buildings with solar plants increased dramatically from 907 to 6,627, representing an addition of 25 MW in capacity within a single year. Government buildings now have a combined solar capacity of 58 MW, up from 32 MW the previous year.

In contrast, private sector adoption has shown more modest growth. The number of private buildings with solar power plants increased marginally from 3,794 on March 31, 2024, to 4,361 by March 31, 2025. This represented an addition of only 2.8 MW in private sector capacity, bringing the total private solar capacity to 32 MW from 29 MW the previous year.

The Chandigarh Renewal Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) serves as the nodal agency for solar power plant installation in the city and has accelerated rooftop installation on government buildings. According to officials, the UT is first in the country in covering all government buildings, including residential and office structures, with rooftop solar power plants.

Major Infrastructure Projects Planned

The administration's commitment to green energy continues with plans for a major floating solar power plant of 4 MW capacity set to be established in Sector 39 waterworks. This facility will be the largest floating solar installation in north India and is part of the UT's plan to implement 8 MWp projects in 2025-26. The project carries an estimated cost of around INR 24 crore.

These infrastructure developments support the administration's ambitious renewable energy goals. The government has set a target of making Chandigarh 100% renewable energy-powered by 2047, while also aiming to make all government departments "net zero" by 2030.

Rising Power Demand Challenges

Despite the renewable energy expansion, Chandigarh faces increasing power demand challenges, particularly during summer months. Peak power demand has shown a consistent upward trend, increasing by 27% between 2020 and 2025. During the summer months of April through June, peak demand rose from 363 MW in 2020 to 379 MW in 2021, 407 MW in 2022, before declining slightly to 377 MW in 2023, then surging to 449 MW in 2024 and reaching 460 MW in 2025.

This growing demand underscores the importance of the city's renewable energy initiatives, as the administration works to balance increasing power needs with its clean energy objectives. The substantial investment in solar infrastructure represents a strategic response to both environmental goals and practical energy security requirements.

The renewable energy expansion in Chandigarh demonstrates how targeted government initiatives can drive rapid adoption of clean energy technologies, even as private sector participation remains relatively limited. The city's approach of prioritizing government building installations has created a substantial foundation for renewable energy capacity that supports broader sustainability objectives.

Track the Latest & Upcoming Renewable Energy Projects In India

Subscribe to our upcoming and ongoing Renewable Energy Projects in India with ease to access reliable, high-quality insights on forthcoming and completed Projects across the country.

Our user-friendly platform provides essential details, timely updates, key stakeholder contact information, and business opportunities tailored for engineering companies, industry professionals, investors, and government agencies.

Start a free demo to take your business to the next level.