CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has announced a series of major investments in the power sector, including an Rs 8,000crore expansion of the Ennore Thermal Power Station SEZ project, accelerated renewable energy infrastructure and fresh incentives for rooftop solar and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.Presenting the revised state budget for 2026-27 on Wednesday, finance minister N Marie Wilson said the Ennore Thermal Power Station SEZ thermal plant would be expanded at an estimated cost of Rs 8,000 crore under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.The minister announced that the long-pending Udangudi Thermal Power Project would be commissioned soon to strengthen the state’s conventional power generation capacity.To support renewable energy integration, the govt said the Rs 5,050crore Vellimalai Pumped Storage Project would be expedited. The state will also introduce a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) policy to attract private investment in energy storage technologies.In a major push for rooftop solar, the minister announced that the state govt would provide a subsidy of up to Rs 1 lakh for households installing rooftop solar systems. The incentive will be offered in addition to the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar scheme.The budget also outlined significant investments in transmission infrastructure. A 765-kV transmission corridor between Coimbatore and Ariyalur will be developed at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore under the PPP model. Another Rs 1,640 crore has been earmarked for the Virudhunagar-Coimbatore 765-kV transmission project.The govt has allocated Rs 1,390 crore to strengthen the state’s transmission network, while green energy corridors capable of evacuating 11,000 MW of renewable power will be developed at a cost of Rs 6,080 crore with external funding support.
