The Tamil Nadu government is set to launch a significant rooftop solar power initiative covering about 200 government offices in the state. The Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) aims to install solar systems with a total capacity of 200 MW at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. This move is part of the state’s efforts to shift towards clean energy and reduce electricity expenses in public structures.
The proposal, presented as a Detailed Project Report (DPR), is geared towards expediting the state’s adoption of renewable energy while trimming down electricity costs in government buildings. The project, to be executed under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, will involve private developers setting up, owning, operating, and maintaining the rooftop solar plants to supply electricity to these offices.
Officials anticipate the announcement of the project during the upcoming Assembly session once it secures government approval. This initiative is a revamped version of a previous program initiated during the earlier DMK government, which did not materialize. Following joint assessments by Tangedco and TNGECL, tenders were floated for installing 20 MW of rooftop solar systems in government offices across several districts.
The project faced setbacks as it failed to attract private developers and was subsequently put on hold. The current government canceled tenders issued between October 2025 and February 2026 due to identified irregularities in the tendering process. In response to the Centre’s call for expediting renewable energy projects, TNGECL has devised a fresh proposal encompassing government offices throughout Tamil Nadu.
Acknowledging the challenge of limited rooftop space in many government buildings, TNGECL plans to prioritize collectorates and Revenue Department offices for solar panel installations due to the availability of sufficient rooftop area. The proposed solar installations are expected to cater to a significant portion of daytime electricity needs in these offices, thereby reducing reliance on traditional power sources, cutting electricity bills, and contributing to the state’s renewable energy objectives.
Upon approval of the proposal, TNGECL will invite new bids from private developers under the RESCO model. Meanwhile, Electricity Minister C.T.R Nirmalkumar conducted a comprehensive review of the state’s power sector performance during a high-level meeting at the TNEB headquarters in Chennai. The minister assessed power generation, procurement, and distribution, scrutinized additional personnel recruitment, and monitored the progress of key projects, including the Udangudi thermal power project and the proposed Ennore SEZ thermal power project.
