Mizoram is expanding its renewable energy capacity through a series of solar and hydropower projects as the state government works to strengthen clean energy generation and increase the use of renewable sources, officials said.
The state generated 41.86 million units (MU) of solar power and 31.04 MU from Small Hydel Projects (SHPs) during 2024-25, according to officials.
The government has already commissioned solar projects with capacities of 20 MWp at Vankal in Khawzawl district, 2 MWp at Tlungvel in Aizawl district and 10 MWp at Thenzawl in Serchhip district.
Another 5 MWp ground-mounted solar project at Sumsuih in Aizawl district is currently under construction. Officials said several other locations across Mizoram have also been identified for future solar power projects.
The state is also seeing increased participation in rooftop solar generation under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. As of August 14, Mizoram had received 1,532 applications for rooftop solar installations. Solar systems have already been installed in 1,417 households, officials said.
The government is also undertaking Government Building Solarisation (GBS), under which government buildings are being identified and assessed for their suitability for rooftop solar installations.
Officials said processes were also underway for tendering and the execution of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for solar projects at various identified locations across the state.
Alongside solar expansion, Mizoram is pursuing new hydropower projects, including the 24-MW Tuirini Small Hydel Project in Aizawl district and the 132-MW Tuivai Hydroelectric Project in Saitual district, near the Manipur border.
For the Tuirini project, the foundation stone has already been laid, while formation cutting for a 9-km approach road has been completed. Work related to forest clearance, social impact assessment and land acquisition is currently underway.
Preparations for the tendering process are also being carried out with the assistance of a project management consultant.
The Tuirini project has received administrative approval of Rs 676.98 crore. The state government has received an expenditure sanction of Rs 10.50 crore and an allocation of Rs 50 crore, while a further expenditure sanction is being sought.
The project is expected to receive a Rs 541.58-crore loan from the New Development Bank (NDB), while the state government is expected to contribute Rs 135.40 crore.
Meanwhile, work on the proposed 132-MW Tuivai Hydroelectric Project has progressed under the Infrastructure Investment Fund for Development Projects (IIPDF) scheme of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.
The revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Tuivai project has been completed. Officials said efforts are now underway to take up the project as an Externally Aided Project (EAP) under the state government.
The state is also planning to corporatise the Power and Electricity Department (P&ED) as part of efforts to restructure the power sector. Under the proposed arrangement, the department is being reorganised into three Strategic Business Units (SBUs).
The proposal is currently under consideration by the Administrative Reforms Wing of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DP&AR), officials said.
The series of projects reflects Mizoram’s broader effort to increase renewable power generation through a combination of solar and hydropower sources, while also expanding rooftop solar use and restructuring the state’s power administration.
