BENGALURU: As Karnataka’s economy grows by leaps and bounds, recent data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation shows the state also leads in hydroelectric power generation, with 3.63 gigawatt of power. It also tops in small hydro power project generation with 3,726MW in 2024-25.
The ministry’s National Statistics Office (NSO) on March 30 released the annual Energy Statistics India 2026 report, which noted that India has a huge potential for generation of renewable energy, which stands at 47,04,043MW as on March 31, 2025. Solar energy has seen staggering growth, from 7,48,990MW during financial year 2023-24 to 33,43,378MW in FY 2024-25. It also has the highest share (around 71 per cent) followed by 11,63,856MW of wind energy and 1,33,410MW from large hydro projects.
“More than 70 per cent of the total potential for renewable energy generation is concentrated in six states— Rajasthan (23.70%), Maharashtra (14.26%), Gujarat (9.10%), Andhra Pradesh (9.1%), Karnataka (8.59%) and Madhya Pradesh (8.09%),” the report noted.
The ministry noted that in bagasse power cogeneration, Karnataka ranked third after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, with 1,762MW during the same period. In biomass power generation, Karnataka ranked seventh in the all-India category, with generation of 1,794MW. In the solar power generation sector, the state ranked ninth with 24,700MW.
In case of large hydro projects, Karnataka stood sixth with 4,414 MW. Arunachal Pradesh took the lead with 50,394 MW, followed by Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim. Karnataka ranked fourth in wind power generation with 1,69,251 MW, behind Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Officials in the energy department said they were yet to look into the data. They said the state is leading in solar power generation in 2026 with 9,900MW, and all efforts were being made to increase it by promoting PM Surya Ghar and Kusum-B and C schemes. Karnataka is also leading in the electric vehicle ecosystem.