Tamil Nadu lays out Vision 2031 with focus on green energy and charging infrastructure
Expanding the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, enhancing rooftop solar support, and reducing aggregate technical and commercial losses to 10% are the key goals of the project
The Tamil Nadu Energy Department has unveiled Vision 2031, a roadmap aimed at achieving a 50% share of renewable energy in the state's energy mix by 2031. The department plans to bolster electric vehicle charging infrastructure, bolster rooftop solar initiatives, and decrease aggregate technical and commercial losses to 10%. Energy Minister C.T.R.
Nirmal Kumar highlighted several infrastructure projects during his presentation of the Energy Department's demands for the 2026-27 fiscal year in the Assembly. TNPDCL intends to provide 50,000 new agricultural power connections this year and has proposed constructing 10 high-tension sub-stations at a cost of ₹110 crore, alongside upgrading 10 33/11-kilovolt sub-stations.
To enhance power distribution in urban areas, the department intends to convert 1,250 distribution transformers into ring main units, with a budget of ₹250 crore. Under Vision 2031, the government plans to establish 20,000 electric vehicle charging stations, focusing on corridors linking major cities. As of April, Tamil Nadu has registered 5.50 lakh electric vehicles and 2,425 charging stations, showcasing a significant surge in electric vehicle adoption.
The Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) has completed a feasibility study at 528 sites under PM E-DRIVE for a State-wide electric vehicle charging network and developed a portal to match Charge Point Operators with landowners to create public charging stations via revenue-sharing agreements. The Energy Department will offer a 50% capital subsidy for charging infrastructure in apartment complexes, capped at ₹50,000.
TNGECL is enhancing grid reliability and facilitating large-scale renewable energy integration, including the establishment of 1,000 MWh of standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) under the State Component of the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme. The project includes six BESS stations at Thennampatty, Anuppankulam, Ottapidaram, Vellalaviduthi, Kayathar, and Karaikudi sub-stations of TANTRANSCO, with a combined capacity of 1,000 MWh.
TNPDCL is accelerating the 2x660-MW Udangudi Stage-I project, set for commercial operation before December 2023, and the Ennore SEZ project is slated for commissioning in late 2027. The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) aims to cut aggregate technical and commercial losses, bolster financial sustainability and operational efficiency in the power distribution sector, and improve power supply quality and reliability.
To achieve this, the TNPDCL seeks approval for measures estimated to cost ₹8,929.86 crore, focusing on the installation of smart meters. PFC Consulting Limited has been appointed as the implementing agency to deploy 1.25 lakh smart meters in seven districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Tiruvannamalai.
Former Minister V. Senthilbalaji inquired about high electricity bills and the circular issued by TNPDCL chairman V. Arun Roy on reassessing 3.70 lakh bills. Nirmal Kumar confirmed that the department would reassess the bills, finding that only 2,019 bills had mismatches due to meter reading errors.
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