The Vision 2031 roadmap of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government places emphasis on the smooth integration of renewables, especially solar energy, into the Kerala power system.

As per the document, the government proposes to roll out an ‘Energy transition and efficiency programme’ for promoting the switch to renewables. ‘Energy credit’ for buildings and houses that regulate energy use and deployment of energy storage systems including ‘distribution transformer-level community battery storage’ to handle the rapid escalation in solar power injection into the grid from rooftop solar (RTS) systems are among the proposals for the power sector.

While Kerala’s solar energy capacity has rapidly grown in recent years, the State is yet to deploy energy storage systems to fully benefit from this bounty. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) continues to depend on pricey power purchases to fill the deficit in peak-hour demand. As per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy data, Kerala’s total solar power capability stood at 2295.29 megawatts (MW) as on April 30, 2026. This includes 340.26 MW ground-mounted solar and 1930.4 MW rooftop solar (including PM Surya Ghar Yojana).

Wind and solar power

The Vision 2031 document says the UDF government intends to tap the State’s potential in wind and solar power. Large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are planned to address peak load issues, according to it.

The previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had kicked off work on BESS projects at a KSEB sub-station at Mylatti in Kasaragod district, and substations in four other locations.

The UDF government also proposes to expand the electric vehicle charge station network in the State and to link them with local solar plants and battery storage systems.

In a recent order, the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission had criticised the KSEB for failing to resolve the peak-demand shortages faced by the State. The commission had pointed to an “urgent need” for more storage systems so that cheaper electricity available during daytime can be stored and then released when the demand is high.