Visakhapatnam, April 23: Andhra Pradesh has unveiled an ambitious clean energy roadmap, targeting 160 GW of green energy generation and Rs 10 lakh crore in investments by 2029, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced on Thursday. The declaration came as Naidu laid the foundation stone for the 6.5 GW ReNew Solar Ingot-Wafer Plant in Rambilli, Anakapalli district, near Visakhapatnam — a milestone that signals the state's intent to become a national hub for renewable energy manufacturing.

Massive Investment Pipeline Already in Motion

CM Naidu disclosed that investments worth Rs 5.95 lakh crore have already been committed to the state's renewable energy sector. Proposals and Memoranda of Understanding covering 90 GW of energy capacity have been formally finalised, putting the state well on track toward its 2029 target.

NTPC Green Energy has emerged as one of the biggest backers, committing investments totalling Rs 1.85 lakh crore — one of the largest single-entity clean energy pledges in the state's history. Solar and wind power generation is already operational in Anantapur and Kurnool districts, while Rambilli is being positioned as a critical solar panel manufacturing corridor.

ReNew Plant and the Silicon Coast Vision

IT Minister Nara Lokesh described the ReNew Energy Global solar wafer and ingot manufacturing facility in Anakapalli as a defining step in establishing Andhra Pradesh as the Silicon Coast of India. In a post on X, Lokesh said the project marks the state's transition from merely deploying renewable energy to manufacturing high-value components within its own borders.

Lokesh pointed to a critical structural gap in India's solar ecosystem — despite rapid growth in installation capacity, a significant portion of the supply chain, particularly wafers and ingots, remained heavily dependent on imports, especially from China. The state government, he said, identified this vulnerability early and prioritised backward integration as a strategic imperative.

The broader industrial strategy includes building domestic manufacturing capabilities spanning electronics, semiconductors, and clean energy — sectors that align with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Production-Linked Incentive frameworks. Andhra Pradesh has been offering policy clarity, faster regulatory approvals, and targeted financial incentives to attract upstream manufacturers from both global and domestic markets.

Anakapalli: The Next Industrial Powerhouse

CM Naidu expressed strong confidence that Anakapalli district is on course to become India's top investment destination. He drew a powerful historical parallel, noting that Ranga Reddy district — once considered backward in undivided Andhra Pradesh — has today transformed into one of the wealthiest and most industrially advanced regions in Telangana. Naidu projected that Anakapalli would replicate and potentially surpass that transformation.

The district recently received another major boost when the foundation stone for the ArcelorMittal Nippon India Steel Plant was laid — signalling a convergence of green energy and heavy industry investments that could reshape the region's economic profile over the next decade.

Strategic Context: India's 500 GW Renewable Target and China Dependency

India has set a national target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Andhra Pradesh's 160 GW ambition by 2029 would make it one of the largest contributors to this national goal, accounting for nearly 32% of India's total target — a remarkable share for a single state.

This comes amid growing geopolitical pressure to reduce dependence on Chinese solar components, which have dominated global supply chains. The ReNew Solar Ingot-Wafer Plant in Rambilli directly addresses this by building domestic manufacturing capacity for critical upstream solar inputs.

For Andhra Pradesh, which has been working to rebuild its economic identity following the 2014 bifurcation that saw Hyderabad go to Telangana, the clean energy and manufacturing push represents a critical pillar of the state's long-term growth strategy. With Rs 5.95 lakh crore already secured and major players like NTPC Green Energy and ReNew Energy Global committed, the coming months will be critical in determining whether Andhra Pradesh can convert its ambitious targets into ground-level execution and emerge as India's definitive clean energy manufacturing capital before 2029.