Gandhinagar: In a significant step towards a sustainable energy future, the Gujarat government today launched the Integrated Renewable Energy Policy-2025 at a state-level function in Gandhinagar, chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel.
The policy aims to address the challenges of climate change and accelerate Gujarat’s transition towards clean and sustainable energy systems, while aligning with India’s Panchamrut Sankalpa, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the vision of Developed Gujarat @2047.
The Integrated Renewable Energy Policy-2025 seeks to position Gujarat as a globally competitive clean energy hub by promoting investment, innovation, and grid stability in the renewable energy sector. It reinforces the state’s goal of achieving over 100 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, contributing significantly to India’s target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy.
The policy framework emphasizes ease of doing business, supporting innovative and emerging technologies, strengthening grid stability, creating employment opportunities, ensuring affordable tariffs, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
A key feature of the policy is the promotion and integration of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to enable large-scale renewable energy integration and grid stability. Grid-connected and co-located BESS projects with solar, wind, and hybrid projects are encouraged. Strategic BESS installations will be planned by the State Nodal Agency (GEDA) in coordination with GETCO, SLDC, and DISCOMs.
The RE Policy-2025 also introduces flexible commissioning timelines for renewable energy projects, especially for captive and third-party sale projects, and aligns evacuation infrastructure timelines based on voltage levels rather than project capacity.
For the wind energy sector, the policy provides a supportive framework for repowering and refurbishment of existing wind turbines in line with the National Repowering Policy. Key measures include a 24-month extension for repowering, waiver of transmission charges on unused capacity during the transition period, priority for renewable energy connectivity capacity addition, and relaxation of micro-siting rules.
To facilitate project implementation, the policy enables on-demand renewable energy connectivity via the Akshay-Urja-Setu portal and supports the development of new transmission schemes in high-potential renewable zones. It also ensures continuity for projects approved under previous policies, including transfer of ownership and extensions for pre-approved projects.
Importantly, the RE Policy-2025 incentivizes diversification and innovation in Gujarat’s clean energy portfolio, promoting emerging technologies such as ocean energy, geothermal energy, concentrated solar thermal (CST), building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, rail and road-integrated photovoltaic (RIPV) applications, agrivoltaics, and vertical-axis wind turbines through pilot projects.
The policy also strengthens rooftop and distributed renewable energy, encourages private sector participation and start-ups, and integrates employment and skill development initiatives, creating a future-ready, investor-friendly renewable energy ecosystem in Gujarat. DeshGujarat