Every Tehsil Can Become a Renewable Power Producer: Avaada Chairman

Avaada Group Chairman Vineet Mittal has called for decentralised renewable energy generation, supported by energy storage, to strengthen India’s energy security, arguing that every tehsil could become a power producer and help reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil and gas.

Speaking at the Renewable Energy India Expo (REI Expo) 2026, Mittal said that India could leverage its solar and wind resources to generate electricity closer to consumption centres. He said that combining renewable energy generation with storage could help ensure a more reliable power supply, ease pressure on the electricity grid and reduce the impact of disruptions in international fuel markets.

“If every tehsil becomes a power producer, we can address power shortages, ease pressure on the grid and move closer to genuine energy self-reliance,” Mittal said.

He called for a shift from a 'petro-state' to an 'electro-state', emphasising the need to develop a power system that relies more on domestically available renewable resources. Greater decentralisation of electricity generation, he said, could support energy security while expanding the role of local communities in the energy transition.

Mittal recalled meeting Narendra Modi, then Gujarat chief minister, in 2008, when conventional thermal power cost about INR 3 per unit, compared with a solar tariff of approximately INR 15 per unit offered by Gujarat at the time.

According to Mittal, the early policy support helped attract investment into the solar sector and encouraged technological development. Improvements in manufacturing, technology and project deployment subsequently reduced solar power costs, making it one of the most competitive sources of electricity.

India has crossed 300 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity, marking a significant expansion of its non-fossil energy infrastructure. Mittal said sustaining this growth would require investment across the renewable energy value chain, including generation, storage, transmission and domestic manufacturing.

Renewable energy output varies with weather conditions and the time of day. Energy storage can help address this variability by storing electricity when generation is high and making it available when demand rises or renewable output declines. Transmission infrastructure is also required to move electricity from generation centres to consumption hubs.

Mittal's emphasis on local generation and storage reflects the broader challenge of integrating increasing volumes of renewable electricity into India's power system while maintaining supply reliability.

Avaada highlighted its solar manufacturing operations and planned capacity expansion at the expo. Its manufacturing arm, Avaada Electro, currently has annual production capacity of 8.5 GW for solar modules and 3 GW for solar cells at facilities in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The company plans to expand its solar module manufacturing capacity to 13.6 GW and solar cell capacity to 12 GW. It also plans to develop a 3 GW ingot-wafer manufacturing facility, extending its presence across additional stages of the solar photovoltaic manufacturing chain.

Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity, while modules combine multiple cells into panels for installation. Ingot and wafer production represents an earlier stage of the manufacturing process, supplying materials used to manufacture solar cells.

The proposed expansion would increase Avaada Electro's manufacturing footprint across modules, cells and upstream components. The plans come amid efforts to expand domestic solar manufacturing and strengthen India's supply chain for renewable energy equipment.

The company also showcased its 720-watt-peak (Wp) solar modules. Higher-wattage modules can generate more electricity per panel, potentially helping developers maximise installed capacity where rooftop space is limited. Their suitability for individual projects, however, depends on factors including available area, roof structure, installation design and system requirements.

Rooftop solar is one of the avenues through which households, commercial establishments and public institutions can generate electricity at the point of consumption. When combined with suitable storage systems, such installations can also help users manage electricity consumption, depending on system configuration and local regulations.

Actor and Gorakhpur Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan visited the Avaada pavilion to explore the possibility of installing rooftop solar at his office in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Kishan said he had already installed a solar system at his residence and was considering a similar installation at his office to reduce electricity expenses. He also said he would encourage people in his constituency to consider rooftop solar and high-efficiency solar modules.

The proposed office installation would extend his use of solar power from his residence to another property. Rooftop solar systems can reduce purchases of grid electricity when they generate power during daylight hours, although the actual savings depend on consumption patterns, system capacity, installation costs and applicable electricity tariffs.

Kishan also referred to opportunities for wider solar development in Gorakhpur, including a proposed 20 MW floating solar project at Chilua Tal and solar installations on railway station rooftops. He said that he had raised the issue with the Railway Ministry and in Parliament.

Floating solar projects install photovoltaic panels on water bodies, potentially reducing the need for land while using available water surfaces for electricity generation. Their development depends on technical feasibility, water-body conditions, environmental considerations and project approvals.

Solar installations on railway station rooftops could similarly use existing infrastructure to generate electricity for station operations, subject to the suitability of individual buildings and their power requirements.

The discussions at the expo brought together the themes of decentralised generation, rooftop solar adoption, energy storage and domestic equipment manufacturing. Mittal emphasised the need to expand local power production, while Kishan highlighted the potential for solar installations at residences, offices and public infrastructure.

Avaada Group operates in renewable power generation, solar photovoltaic manufacturing, green hydrogen and its derivatives, green data centres, battery storage and pumped hydro projects.