Key Facts & Data

  • Non‑fossil share (Nov 2025): 51.5% of total installed electricity capacity (262.74 GW).
  • Solar capacity: 132.85 GW (41% YoY growth).
  • Wind capacity: 53.99 GW.
  • Global ranking (IRENA 2025): 3rd in solar, 4th in wind, 4th in total renewable capacity.
  • Transmission gap example: Rajasthan has 23 GW renewable capacity but can evacuate only 18.9 GW – ~4 GW stranded.
  • 765 kV corridor design: ~6,000 MW; current utilisation 600‑1,000 MW (≈10‑15%).
  • Energy storage needed by 2032: ~411 GWh.
  • Key initiatives: PM Surya Ghar (Muft Bijli Yojana), National Green Hydrogen Mission (5 MMT by 2030), ALMM, PLI for solar, VGF for offshore wind, One Sun One World One Grid, International Solar Alliance.

Background & Context

India’s renewable surge, driven largely by solar, has outpaced the expansion of the Inter‑State Transmission System (ISTS). The Bharat Climate Forum 2026 highlighted that the new bottleneck is not generation but grid congestion and overly cautious operational practices.

Significance for India / Governance

  • Economic: Stranded renewable assets erode investor confidence and increase tariff burdens on consumers.
  • Environmental: Inadequate evacuation hampers progress toward Net‑Zero 2070 and the 500 GW non‑fossil target for 2030.
  • Strategic: Reliance on imported critical minerals for storage technologies exposes India to global supply shocks.

Legal & Institutional Framework

  • Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC): Regulates GNA (General Network Access) mechanisms.
  • Central Transmission Utility (CTU): Plans corridors, allocates GNA.
  • Grid India (operator): Manages real‑time dispatch and curtailment.
  • National Open Access Registry (NOAR): Platform for T‑GNA (Temporary General Network Access).
  • Constitutional basis: Article 246 (Union List – Power) empowers the Centre to develop and regulate transmission infrastructure.

Challenges

  1. Transmission Congestion – Generation exceeds evacuation capacity.
  2. Under‑utilisation of High‑Voltage Assets – 765 kV lines run at <20% of design.
  3. Operational Conservatism – Grid operators restrict flows citing voltage stability despite available mitigation tech (STATCOMs, SVCs, etc.).
  4. Lack of Institutional Accountability – No performance penalties for under‑delivery.
  5. Storage Deficit – 411 GWh required by 2032; current BESS & PHS far below.
  6. Supply‑Chain Vulnerability – Heavy import dependence for lithium, cobalt, rare‑earths.

Policy Measures & Recommendations

  • Redefine Grid India’s mandate to balance reliability with asset utilisation.
  • Equitable curtailment – Distribute peak‑hour shutdowns across all generators, not just T‑GNA projects.
  • Dynamic capacity reallocation using real‑time protocols.
  • Automatic accountability reviews for persistent under‑performance of transmission assets.
  • Adopt advanced grid‑management tools – dynamic security assessment, probabilistic risk evaluation, adaptive line rating.
  • Accelerate storage deployment – incentivise BESS, pumped hydro, and emerging technologies.
  • Strengthen coordination between CTU and Grid India for seamless planning‑operations alignment.

Related Initiatives

  • One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): Multilateral effort to create a trans‑national renewable grid.
  • Bharat Climate Forum (BCF): Platform for policy dialogue on climate action.
  • Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform: Aims to build a $120‑$150 bn annual cleantech market by 2030, reducing import dependence.

FAQs

  1. What is ALMM? A regulatory list mandating approved solar PV modules and cells for government‑backed projects, promoting domestic manufacturing.
  2. Objective of the National Green Hydrogen Mission? To produce 5 MMT of green hydrogen annually by 2030 and boost electrolyzer manufacturing.
  3. Why is grid congestion a concern? It prevents evacuation of fully commissioned renewable capacity, leading to stranded assets and higher tariffs.
  4. Why is energy storage critical? It balances supply‑demand mismatches, ensuring grid stability when solar/wind output falls.
  5. What does ‘stranded asset’ mean in this context? A renewable plant that cannot feed power into the grid due to transmission constraints.

Drishti Mains Question: India has rapidly expanded its renewable energy capacity but faces structural bottlenecks in grid infrastructure. Examine the causes and suggest measures to address them.