Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) announced plans to invest ₹20,000 crore by 2030 to install nearly 4,000 MW of solar capacity. This move is part of a larger investment strategy worth ₹50,000-60,000 crore to enhance thermal, pump storage power plants, and solar energy. DVC aims to add nearly 10,000 MW in thermal and green energy, increasing its total installed capacity to about 16,700 MW. Currently, DVC has an installed capacity of 6,700 MW, mostly from thermal power.
Chairman S. Suresh Kumar highlighted the growing power demand across the country and the need for a balanced mix of thermal and renewable energy. By 2030, DVC plans to add 3,720 MW in thermal capacity and nearly 4,000 MW in solar. Currently, DVC has only 14 MW of installed solar capacity and is working on a 348 MW project with NTPC. Additionally, a 250MW/hour battery storage capacity is under consideration.
Kumar mentioned that DVC has been exempted from coal import due to its power plants’ proximity to coal mines. The Union Power Ministry has extended a coal import advisory to domestic thermal plants for 4% blending until October 15. DVC plans to ramp up its captive coal mining from the Tubed block in Jharkhand with a dedicated railway siding to increase production to six million tonnes annually, potentially reaching nine million tonnes.
DVC’s current coal requirement is 28-30 million tonnes, with the rest supplied by Coal India subsidiaries. Legal hurdles prevent DVC from bidding for new coal blocks due to a past joint venture issue. Apart from solar power, DVC plans to install two pump storage facilities: one in Logu Pahar, Jharkhand (1,500 MW), and another in Panchet, West Bengal (1,000 MW), with the latter proposed as a joint venture with the West Bengal government.
Kumar also mentioned that Jharkhand’s old dues to DVC have reduced to about ₹1,000 crore, with the state clearing the remaining amount.
