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Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh's upcoming capital, is on track to be the world's first city powered entirely by renewable energy. With a INR 65,000 crore master plan spanning 217 sq km, the city targets 2,700 MW from solar, wind, and hydro sources. Green buildings, rooftop solar, district cooling, EV infrastructure, and a renewable-powered metro form key pillars. Backed by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu's vision, Amaravati aligns with India's clean energy goals and aims to serve as a national model for sustainable urban development. The project's revival, with PM Modi expected to lay its foundation, marks a major milestone in India's climate leadership efforts.
Amaravati, the upcoming capital of Andhra Pradesh, is poised to become the first city in the world to run entirely on renewable energy, according to senior officials involved in the city's planning. The announcement underscores the vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to not only build a futuristic capital but also to align with India's clean energy commitments. Advertisement
The master plan for Amaravati includes a massive 2,700 MW renewable energy target, aimed at powering the city using only green energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectricity. With an estimated project cost of INR 65,000 crore, Amaravati will be developed across 217 sq km and form the core of the larger 8,352 sq km Capital Region, nestled between Vijayawada and Guntur.
What sets Amaravati apart is not just the scale of the project, but its integration of green technology at every stage of development. Town planners have emphasized that all major buildings - especially government housing and administrative complexes - will adhere to green building norms, with mandatory rooftop solar installations covering at least one-third of roof areas.
The plan also includes a district cooling system to reduce the electricity demand for air conditioning - a major issue in Andhra Pradesh, where summer temperatures soar above 47°C. This cooling network, being implemented under a PPP model with UAE-based Tabreed, will cater to major government buildings, including the High Court and Secretariat, with the goal of reducing energy use for cooling by up to 50%.
Amaravati's public transport systems - from the planned metro network to a fleet of electric buses - will be powered by clean energy. Extensive EV charging stations are also part of the infrastructure rollout, making the city future-ready for a zero-emission mobility ecosystem.
In fact, rooftop solar panels totaling 415 kW have already been installed in pilot public buildings, such as Anganwadis, e-health centers, schools, and even a multi-faith funeral center, showcasing the city's step-by-step progress toward sustainability.
The city plans to expand solar power usage even in public spaces - including parks, pedestrian zones, and bus depots - while also enforcing net metering systems across commercial and residential buildings to promote decentralised energy generation.
With peak power demand in Andhra Pradesh expected to rise by 57% to nearly 20 GW by 2029, Amaravati's green model could become a template for other states looking to build energy-resilient urban centers. The city's future energy plan is in line with India's global climate commitments, including the target to generate 500 GW from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
While final details are awaited, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone for Amaravati soon - marking not just the restart of a stalled project, but the beginning of India's most ambitious green urban development.
As India leads global conversations on climate action and smart cities, Amaravati could well become the face of a clean, energy-secure urban India - a city that balances cutting-edge infrastructure with environmental foresight.
Source: PTI
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