According to a company filing, Coal India Ltd has greatly increased its capital spending on solar energy projects. By the end of January of the current financial year (FY 2025–26), it had spent ₹961 crore on solar projects. This is a big step up in the company’s push to switch from coal-based operations to renewable energy. It shows that the company is making a strategic shift to clean energy.
Surpassing Targets and Year‑on‑Year Growth
Coal India’s solar spending has exceeded expectations, achieving 132% of the progressive capex target of ₹729 crore set for January 2026. It also surpassed the full fiscal year solar capex target of ₹957 crore well ahead of schedule. On a year‑on‑year basis, the solar capex figure shows impressive growth more than 2.3 times the ₹412 crore spent during the same period last year.
A senior company executive noted that solar power continues to rank high on Coal India’s diversification roadmap, with solar expected to play a central role in the company’s future renewable strategy.
Expansion Plans and Renewable Capacity
Coal India has already installed around 247 MW of renewable capacity through itself and its subsidiaries as of December 2025. That figure is expected to reach 675 MW by the end of the current fiscal year. Major upcoming solar power additions include two significant projects in Gujarat a 100 MW plant in Patan and a 300 MW facility in Khavda.
Beyond these projects, the company is actively exploring additional renewable capacity of around 2,000 MW through joint ventures and subsidiary partnerships. These include an 875 MW plant with Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam and a 500 MW solar project with Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam. Coal India has also invited bids for a 20 MW floating solar plant in Gorakhpur and is participating in tariff‑based competitive bidding (TBCB) across several states.
Strategic Shift Toward Net‑Zero Goals
Coal India is targeting to become a Net‑Zero entity by FY 2028, in part through installing 3,000 MW of renewable solar capacity. As costs for solar installation continue to decline now about ₹4 crore to ₹4.5 crore per MW compared to earlier higher costs the company’s accelerated solar investments are both economically viable and strategically important in its clean energy transition.
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