CSR initiative expands to three states, delivering 24×7 clean energy, livelihood access, and community-owned solar grids

Tata Capital’s Green Switch programme has expanded its footprint to 99 hamlets across Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, providing decentralised solar power to over 20,700 people. The initiative now supplies electricity to more than 4,800 households through mini-grid installations.

Over the past year, the programme added 19 hamlets to its network, installing an additional 428.86 kilowatt-peak (kWp) of solar capacity. The effort is part of a broader push to address energy access gaps in remote and underserved regions where grid connectivity remains limited or unreliable.

Government data and sectoral studies indicate that decentralised renewable energy solutions such as mini-grids are critical to closing India’s rural electrification gaps. These systems are often more viable than extending central grids to sparsely populated or geographically challenging areas.

In addition to household electrification, the programme includes the deployment of solar-powered systems for productive use. According to data shared by the implementing agency, more than 290 solar pumps have been installed, and over 155 individuals have been trained as grid operators in local communities.

The intervention is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), which focuses on ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. While India has made significant progress in rural electrification, experts note that quality and consistency of supply remain concerns in many areas.

As of July 2025, the cumulative installed capacity under the Green Switch initiative exceeds 1,200 kWp. The programme’s reach has also widened geographically, growing from 79 hamlets across two states in the previous year to nearly 100 locations across three states.

The model combines infrastructure development with capacity-building and links between energy access and rural livelihoods. Community participation in operation and maintenance is a key element of the approach, aimed at improving long-term sustainability.