Karnataka State
Critical minerals, policy, and the energy transition
The Energy Transition in Karnataka, India
Karnataka, stretching from the Western Ghats to the Bayalu Seeme plains, leads India’s renewable charge. Installed capacity tops 34 GW, with more than 18 GW of wind, solar and small hydro already meeting roughly 52 % of annual demand. The 2,050 MW Pavagada Ultra Mega Solar Park anchors this portfolio, while 1,400 MW hybrid clusters in Koppal and Vijayanagara are under construction. The state has auctioned 3 GW of wind-solar hybrids paired with 1,000 MWh batteries to firm evening peaks, and a 1 GWh pumped-storage upgrade at Sharavathi will follow in 2027. Bengaluru’s e-mobility plan supports 1 GW of rooftop PV on tech campuses and a 30 MW electrolyser pilot to fuel green-hydrogen buses along the NICE corridor. Geologically, Karnataka is equally strategic. The Ballari-Hospet belt hosts high-grade iron ore for green-steel trials, Kolar and Raichur yield gold essential for electronics, and the Mandya pegmatite province contains India’s first confirmed lithium resource. Graphite in Chitradurga and coastal monazite sands rich in rare earths broaden the critical-mineral basket. By pairing abundant clean power with vital minerals and strong manufacturing, Karnataka is emerging as a southern hub for low-carbon energy and materials.
Essential Mineral Production and Products in Karnataka
A state-by-state analysis of India’s critical minerals and energy transition policies
SFA explores the state-level frontlines of India’s strategy to secure its position in the global energy transition. As demand surges for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, grid storage, solar, and hydrogen technologies, India is intensifying efforts to diversify supply, localise processing, and reduce strategic dependencies. This analysis examines how mineral endowments, state-level industrial policy, and renewable energy deployment intersect across the Indian landscape. From lithium-bearing pegmatites in Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir to rare-earth-rich coastal sands in Tamil Nadu and Odisha, this state-by-state review highlights the opportunities and constraints shaping India’s clean-energy future and its role in global mineral security.


Meet the Critical Minerals team
Trusted advice from a dedicated team of experts.

Henk de Hoop
Chief Executive Officer

Beresford Clarke
Managing Director: Technical & Research

Jamie Underwood
Principal Consultant

Ismet Soyocak
ESG & Critical Minerals Lead

Rj Coetzee
Senior Market Analyst: Battery Materials and Technologies

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