Reliance Power launched an ambitious solar energy project with Bhutan. This brave endeavor is a big jump forward in the Great Lakes region’s renewable energy terrain. This project involves a 20-year PPA with Green Digital. It is an ambitious plan to build the largest solar power plant in Asia. This project will include a 930MW solar energy PPA with a 465MW/1,860 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS). This initiative is expected to bring in a combined capital investment of up to Rs20 trillion ($234 trillion). This figure is the biggest ever private sector foreign direct investment in the solar sector of Bhutan.
Reliance Power and its subsidiary, Reliance NU Suntech, are embarking on something much bigger. This collaborative effort will take place over the course of two years and conclude in May 2027. This timeline is consistent with Bhutan’s sustainability compass and advances the region-wide energy transition cause in South Asia. Reliance Power is working closely with financial institutions to develop a long-term commercially sustainable project financing structure. They have started the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) tendering process.
Reliance Enterprises, comprising Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure, has partnered with Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), the investment arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan. In many ways this partnership deepens the strategic collaboration already seen between India and Bhutan. This partnership includes a new innovative solar project that is particularly exciting. It features the announcement of a 500MW solar plant as well as the 770MW Chamkharchhu-I hydroelectric project.
Reliance’s newest investment is set to dramatically increase Bhutan’s solar generation capacity in addition to diversifying its renewable energy portfolio. By integrating these renewable projects, Reliance aims to promote regional clean energy cooperation and bolster cross-border infrastructure development in South Asia.
In January 2025, Reliance NU Suntech announced plans to invest $1.16 billion in establishing another solar power facility coupled with BESS in Andhra Pradesh, India. This program is a prime example of Reliance Group’s new strategy to broaden its renewable energy portfolio. It showcases their greater effort to promote economic collaboration between India and Bhutan.