Renewable energy sources currently provide about 70 per cent of Karnataka’s electricity needs, with the Indian state having nearly 27.3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity, according to Energy Minister KJ George.
George disclosed this during the Bengaluru leg of a roadshow promoting the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, where he said the state was committed to expanding clean energy infrastructure and attracting fresh investment.
The minister said Karnataka has become a major renewable energy producer and is now expanding beyond traditional solar and wind projects into battery storage, pumped-storage hydropower, green hydrogen, electric mobility and smart-grid technologies.
He said the shift towards clean energy was increasingly important not only for environmental protection but also for economic growth, industrial development, job creation, technological innovation and energy security.
Karnataka currently has more than 11.5 GW of solar capacity and about 8.5 GW of wind capacity. George said the development of the Green Energy Corridor was also improving the state’s ability to integrate renewable electricity into its power network.
The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 will take place from November 2 to 5 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, alongside the ninth General Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and the fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen.
Speaking to reporters later, George said Karnataka’s electricity demand was around 18,000MW, with wind, solar and hydropower meeting about 70 per cent of the requirement.
He noted that while electricity supply was generally adequate during the daytime, meeting demand during peak hours remained a challenge because solar generation falls after sunset. The state is therefore pursuing battery storage and pumped-storage projects to provide power when renewable generation is low.
On concerns over electricity shortages caused by poor rainfall, George said power supply to irrigation pumpsets had not been cut. He added that Karnataka had borrowed electricity from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana through a barter arrangement and would return the power by September.
The state is also purchasing electricity through power exchanges when necessary, although availability can sometimes be limited.
On the Gruha Jyoti scheme, which provides eligible households with up to 200 units of free electricity, George said about 65 to 70 per cent of the beneficiary re-verification exercise had been completed following an extension of the deadline.
He also said Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) had moved from recording losses to making a profit, attributing the improvement to greater efficiency and efforts to secure cheaper financing.
George defended BESCOM’s borrowing strategy, saying the company has a large turnover and does not receive direct budgetary support from the state government. He argued that borrowing can be beneficial when funds are invested in infrastructure capable of generating revenue and supporting repayment.
Karnataka is now focused on expanding renewable energy while addressing storage and grid-integration challenges, with the government seeking to build a more reliable clean energy system and attract additional investment into the sector.
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