The West Bengal State Government plans to set up a new entity - Green Power Corporation (GPC), to look after renewable energy projects in the State. The proposed entity is expected to take over the functions of the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA).

WBREDA acts as a promotional agency and it has already implemented a number of programmes for solar, wind, biomass and small hydel power projects.

With the creation of GPC, WBREDA’s administrative control would shift from the department of science and technology to the department of power. WBREDA would be merged with a commercial outfit, enabling it to generate and sell energy on its own, tap institutional and multilateral funds and take up relatively bigger power projects with a capacity of around 25 MW.

Reportedly, the State has a renewable energy potential, comprising tidal wave, solar, biomass, small hydel and urban and industrial waste energy, of over 780 MW.