Coal India (CIL) has entered the renewable energy space through a strategic collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) to develop a 500 MW solar power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

Announced via a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 05 May, 2025, in Lucknow, the initiative is part of CIL’s broader push toward green energy and aligns with efforts to meet the state's increasing energy needs sustainably. The MoU outlines the framework for the upcoming solar facility and includes potential future opportunities for collaboration between CIL and UPRVUNL.

The move reflects Coal India’s commitment to diversify its energy portfolio amid growing emphasis on clean energy transitions at the national level. While Coal India remains the dominant player in India’s coal output, contributing over 80 percent of domestic production, its shift toward renewables signals a significant policy and operational pivot.

The solar partnership follows Coal India's recent agreement with Damodar Valley Corporation to build an ultra-supercritical thermal power plant in Jharkhand, a Rs 16,500 crore project aimed at improving energy efficiency.