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Coal India and UPRVUNL Form Joint Venture to Accelerate Renewable Energy Development in Uttar Pradesh

Coal India Limited (CIL) has entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with U.P. Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) to develop a diverse portfolio of renewable energy projects across Uttar Pradesh. The partnership marks another significant step in Coal India's strategy to expand beyond coal mining and strengthen its presence in India's fast-growing clean energy sector.

Under the agreement, Coal India will hold a 51% equity stake in the newly formed joint venture company, while UPRVUNL will own the remaining 49%. The entity will be established with an initial paid-up capital of Rs10 lakh and an authorised share capital of ?10 crore, with its registered office located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The joint venture will be responsible for developing a range of renewable energy projects, including ground-mounted solar parks, floating solar installations, pumped storage projects, wind energy facilities, and other clean energy ventures. In addition to project development, the company will undertake power sales and related commercial activities, supporting Uttar Pradesh's growing demand for reliable and sustainable electricity.

The agreement builds on the existing collaboration between the two organisations. In May 2025, Coal India and UPRVUNL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a 500 MW solar power project in the state. More recently, Coal India also secured a Letter of Award (LoA) to develop two 300 MW solar power projects, totaling 600 MW, at the Jalaun Solar Park for Bundelkhand Saur Urja Limited, further expanding its renewable energy footprint in Uttar Pradesh.

Coal India has been steadily diversifying its business as India's energy transition gathers pace. Traditionally the country's largest coal producer, the company has announced ambitious plans to establish 3 GW of renewable energy capacity by FY2027-28, with a long-term target of 9.5 GW by FY2029-30. These investments are intended to complement India's expanding renewable energy ecosystem while supporting the country's objective of reducing carbon emissions and increasing the share of non-fossil fuel power generation.

Alongside renewable generation, Coal India is also making significant investments in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), which are becoming increasingly important for integrating intermittent renewable energy into the electricity grid. Last month, the company received a Letter of Award from GRIDCO Odisha to develop four BESS projects with a combined capacity of 80 MW/320 MWh across two clusters in Odisha, with an estimated project cost of ?400 crore.

Earlier, in March 2026, Coal India secured another major storage project after winning a contract from Telangana Power Generation Corporation (TGGENCO) to develop a 187.5 MW/750 MWh BESS facility at the Choutuppal substation in Telangana. The project was awarded at a tariff of ?3.14 lakh per MW per month, highlighting the company's growing capabilities in grid-scale energy storage.

The latest joint venture with UPRVUNL reflects the broader transformation taking place within India's public sector energy companies, many of which are expanding their investments in solar, wind, hydro, and energy storage technologies. As India works toward its national target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based installed electricity capacity by 2030, collaborations between central public sector enterprises and state utilities are expected to play a crucial role in accelerating project development, strengthening grid reliability, and supporting the country's long-term clean energy transition.