Patna: A two-day Solar and Sustainable Energy Summit and Exhibition concluded in Patna with state officials reiterating Bihar’s focus on renewable energy expansion, industrial power reliability, and policy-driven growth in the energy sector.
The event was organised under the joint aegis of the Energy Department, Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Push Towards Clean Energy Transition
Speaking at the summit, Energy Secretary Ajay Yadav, who is also the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited, said the importance of energy has increased significantly with rising demand across India and Bihar.
He said Bihar’s peak electricity demand has grown from around 1,800 MW a decade ago to nearly 9,000 MW at present, reflecting rapid consumption growth in the state.
Yadav added that the government is prioritising solar energy projects under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri-KUSUM Yojana, along with broader renewable expansion initiatives.
Policy Expansion and Infrastructure Growth
The Energy Secretary said Bihar had implemented a Renewable Energy Policy and Pumped Storage Policy last year, while work is underway on a Green Hydrogen Policy.
He said the state is also exploring a Green Open Access Policy and strengthening transmission and distribution networks, including expansion of substations and transformers to meet future demand.
According to him, Bihar currently ranks second in India in terms of electricity consumers, a figure that continues to grow steadily.
He also mentioned ongoing work on nuclear power initiatives and pumped-storage projects as part of long-term energy planning.
Industrial Supply and Sectoral Performance
Managing Director of BREDA and North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL), Rahul Kumar, said Bihar’s electricity demand has increased nearly 13-fold over the last 15 years.
He stated that, as per NFMS data, rural areas are receiving over 22 hours of daily power supply, while urban areas are receiving over 23 hours consistently.
He added that Bihar has become self-reliant in electricity availability and is among the few states to achieve this level of supply stability.
Distribution Network and Consumer Base
Rahul Kumar said domestic consumers account for nearly 89–90% of the total consumer base in the state’s power sector.
He noted that NBPDCL ranked among the top five DISCOMs in India in consumer service ratings issued by the Government of India, attributing the performance to improved service delivery systems.
Renewable Energy Expansion Plans
He said Bihar’s Renewable Energy Policy 2025 has received a positive response and solar projects, including the Kajra Solar Project, are progressing steadily.
Work is also advancing under the pumped-storage policy, with larger energy storage projects expected in the coming years.
Data Centre Policy Report Released
During the summit, a report titled “Sustainable Data Centre Policy for Bihar” was released, outlining opportunities for green and sustainable development of the data centre sector in the state along with associated policy frameworks.
