Karnataka is expanding battery energy storage, accelerating the solarisation of agricultural feeders and preparing additional power supplies as part of a long-term energy security strategy, Energy Minister K.J. George said at a review meeting in Bengaluru on October 2.
The strategy is intended to improve electricity availability during peak-demand periods while increasing the share of renewable energy in the state’s power system. George said the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) are implementing battery energy storage system projects at different stages.
KPTCL projects with a capacity of 500 megawatts/1,000 megawatt-hours are under implementation, the minister said. At Pavagada Solar Park, KREDL has taken up a 250 MW solar power project along with a battery energy storage system of 1,100 megawatt-hours. Additional projects are being taken up at Kushtagi, with a capacity of 250 MW/500 megawatt-hours, and at Huliyurdurga, with a capacity of 200 MW/400 megawatt-hours. Together, these two projects account for 900 megawatt-hours of storage capacity.
The state is also accelerating the implementation of the KUSUM-C scheme, which supports the solarisation of agricultural feeders. George said work orders had been issued by September 25 for 439 projects with a combined capacity of 2,767 MW. Of these, 122 projects with a total capacity of 694 MW had already begun operations.
The minister said 395 MW of capacity had been commissioned up to March 2026, while another 299 MW had become operational from April 2026 onwards. Electricity supply companies have been directed to speed up implementation of the projects, according to the statement.
The Chief Minister’s Solar Agriculture Scheme, or CM-SKY, is also being implemented in phases across Karnataka. In the first phase, 159 projects with a combined capacity of 919 MW were taken up in the areas served by BESCOM, HESCOM and JESCOM. The second phase covers 119 projects with a total capacity of 1,003.85 MW across five electricity supply company areas.
The schemes are intended to increase renewable energy capacity while supporting the agricultural sector. The energy department has instructed all electricity supply companies to meet their assigned targets, George said.
The state is also preparing for electricity demand in the coming months. George said Karnataka was ready to meet expected demand and was examining the possibility of obtaining power through exchange arrangements with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Annual maintenance of Karnataka Power Corporation Limited’s thermal power units has been deferred to keep the units available for generation, while coal stocks are being built up.
The state plans to use power banking from November to meet requirements linked to demand. Energy Department Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta said electricity demand had risen by 30% in September because of the El Niño effect. Despite the increase, the state supplied more than 3,000 MW of additional electricity, he said.
Gupta said 1,000 MW would become available to Karnataka from November 1. The state is also procuring an additional 230 MW in advance from other generators, while another 236 MW has been allocated through the central system from the eastern grid. A central government notification under Section 11, effective October 1, is expected to make more electricity available through power exchanges, he said.
The review meeting also addressed the financial position of the state’s electricity supply companies. BESCOM and MESCOM are on a path to profitability, while HESCOM, CESC and JESCOM need to strengthen their finances. George directed the companies to improve revenue collection, recover outstanding electricity bills and ensure that subsidies are released on time. Senior officials from KPCL, KPTCL, BESCOM, KREDL and the other electricity supply companies attended the meeting.
