The largest solar park in Karnataka is the Pavagada Solar Park in Tumakuru district, rated at 2,050 MW and spread over about 13,000 acres. It was fully operational by December 2019 and is still the state's flagship solar park. Its power goes to utilities, not straight to factories, but it proves large-scale solar works in Karnataka.
Pavagada is only part of the story. Karnataka had 11,535 MW of solar installed by June 2026, and much of the rest sits in smaller solar farms built by private developers. Many of those farms sell power to businesses. As a solar company in Karnataka, Panchami Global helps factories and commercial buildings tap that same kind of power.
Here is what you need to know about solar parks in Karnataka, and what they mean if you run a business here.
Pavagada Solar Park at a Glance
Pavagada Solar Park, also called Shakti Sthala, is a 2,050 MW solar park in Pavagada taluk of Tumakuru district, about 180 km from Bengaluru. It was built by Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation (KSPDCL), a joint venture of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL).
| Detail | Pavagada Solar Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Pavagada taluk, Tumakuru district |
| Capacity | 2,050 MW |
| Area | About 13,000 acres across five villages |
| Developer of the park | KSPDCL (SECI and KREDL joint venture, formed March 2015) |
| First phase | 600 MW, commissioned January 2018 |
| Fully operational | December 2019 |
| Main plant developers inside | Tata Power (400 MW), ReNew Power (350 MW), Fortum (350 MW), Avaada (300 MW) |
The figures above are drawn from NS Energy, Power Line and The CSR Journal.
How Pavagada Was Built: Land Leased, Not Bought
Pavagada's land was leased from farmers rather than acquired. According to the World Resources Institute, KSPDCL leased 13,000 acres from about 2,300 landowners for 25 to 28 years, paying ₹21,000 per acre per year with a 5% increase every two years.
The park was also built as a “plug and play” site. KSPDCL prepared the land, internal roads and the grid connection, then invited developers to bid for blocks and build their plants. That cut the two biggest delays in any large solar project: finding land and connecting to the grid.
This lease model matters beyond Pavagada. Many private solar farms in Karnataka now follow a similar approach, leasing dry or unused land from owners for the life of the plant.
Is Pavagada Still the Largest Solar Park?
Pavagada is still the largest solar park in Karnataka, but it is no longer the largest in the world. When it was completed, it was the world's biggest. By April 2021, it ranked third worldwide, behind larger parks outside Karnataka.
Beyond Pavagada: Where the Rest of Karnataka's Solar Sits
Most of Karnataka's solar is not in one giant park. It is spread across hundreds of smaller ground-mounted plants, plus a growing number of rooftops. As of February 2026, MNRE data showed 9,786 MW of ground-mounted solar in the state and 840.9 MW of rooftop solar.
A large share of these plants supply businesses directly. Karnataka holds 21% of India's 36 GW of open access solar, the largest share of any state, according to Mercom India Research. Open access is how a factory buys power from a solar farm somewhere else and receives it through the grid.
New mega parks are not on the way everywhere. In December 2025, the Karnataka government told Parliament it had no plans for new solar or wind parks in North Karnataka, including Belagavi district. For businesses, that means future solar supply will come mostly from private solar farms rather than new state parks.
What Karnataka's Solar Parks Mean for Businesses
The solar parks show that Karnataka has the sun, land and grid to make solar work at scale. For a business, the real takeaway is how to get a share of that cheaper, cleaner power, since you cannot buy directly from Pavagada.
1. Large-scale solar is proven here. Pavagada has been running since 2018. Developers such as Tata Power signed 25-year power purchase agreements for their plants there, which shows how long solar plants are built to last.
2. You cannot plug into Pavagada, but you can buy from a solar farm. Pavagada's power is sold to utilities. A business can still get solar power from a privately built farm through open access, with no panels on its own roof. Under the third party model, there is no upfront investment.
3. You can own a share of a solar farm. Under group captive, several businesses co-own a solar plant and use its power at a lower rate. The consumers together must own at least 26% of the plant and use at least 51% of its output.
4. Land and investment work the Pavagada way. The same lease-based model that built Pavagada lets landowners and investors take part in new solar farms, with long-term income tied to the plant's 25-year life.
5. Utility-scale solar can be very competitive. When KREDL tendered solar projects in 2018, winning bids came in at ₹2.89 to ₹2.92 per unit. For a business today, the actual saving from open access or group captive depends on the current tariff, applicable open-access charges and the terms of the power contract.
Can a Business Get Power from a Karnataka Solar Park?
Not from Pavagada itself, because its output is contracted to utilities. But a business can get solar power from a privately built solar farm in Karnataka through open access or group captive. The power travels through the existing grid, and the business pays according to the applicable contract and grid charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the largest solar park in Karnataka?
The Pavagada Solar Park in Tumakuru district is the largest solar park in Karnataka. It is rated at 2,050 MW, covers about 13,000 acres and has been fully operational since December 2019. It was developed by KSPDCL, a joint venture of SECI and KREDL, with plants built by developers such as Tata Power, ReNew, Fortum and Avaada.
Where is Pavagada Solar Park?
Pavagada Solar Park is in Pavagada taluk of Tumakuru district, about 180 km north of Bengaluru. It spreads across five villages in a drought-prone area, which is one reason the land was suitable for solar. The land is leased from farmers rather than owned by the park.
How much land does a solar park need?
Pavagada uses about 13,000 acres for 2,050 MW, which works out to roughly 6.3 acres per megawatt. Land needs vary with panel technology, layout and terrain, so smaller private solar farms may need more or less. A developer will size the land after a site study.
Do farmers get paid for land used in Karnataka's solar parks?
At Pavagada, yes. Farmers lease their land to KSPDCL and receive ₹21,000 per acre per year, rising 5% every two years, for 25 to 28 years. Private solar farms negotiate their own lease terms with landowners, which can differ from Pavagada's.
Can my business buy power from a solar farm in Karnataka?
Yes, though not from Pavagada itself, whose power goes to utilities. A business can buy solar power from a privately built solar farm through open access, or co-own a farm through group captive. In both cases the power reaches you through the existing grid.
The Bottom Line
Pavagada put Karnataka on the world's solar map, and it shows that big solar works here. For most businesses, though, the useful part is what came after it: a large market of private solar farms that sell power directly to factories and commercial buildings. That is where the right solar partner can help you save.
If you are comparing solar companies in Karnataka to work with, start with our guide on how to choose the right solar company in Karnataka.
Want to Know Which Solar Model Fits Your Business?
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