Key Facts & Data

  • Non‑fossil installed capacity (Nov 2025): 262.74 GW (51.5% of total)
  • Solar capacity: 132.85 GW (41% YoY growth)
  • Wind capacity: 53.99 GW
  • Transmission shortfall example: Rajasthan – 23 GW renewable capacity vs. 18.9 GW evacuable, leaving >4,000 MW stranded.
  • Utilisation of 765 kV corridors: Designed for ~6,000 MW, operated at 600–1,000 MW (≈15‑20% utilisation).
  • Storage requirement: ~411 GWh by 2032 to ensure grid stability.

Background & Context

  • Policy milestones: India achieved its COP‑26 NDC target five years early; aims for 500 GW non‑fossil capacity by 2030 and Net‑Zero by 2070.
  • Regulatory framework:
  • Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) – issues GNA (General Network Access) and oversees inter‑state transmission.
  • Central Transmission Utility (CTU) – plans corridors, allocates GNA.
  • Grid India – actual system operator managing real‑time flows.
  • Mechanisms: Temporary General Network Access (T‑GNA) allows short‑term, non‑discriminatory access; Permanent GNA provides uninterrupted evacuation.
  • Initiatives: PM Surya Ghar, National Green Hydrogen Mission, ALMM, PLI for solar PV, offshore wind VGF, International Solar Alliance, One Sun One World One Grid.

Significance for India / Governance / Policy

  • Economic impact: Stranded renewable assets risk billions of rupees; tariffs rise for consumers.
  • Energy security: Over‑reliance on imports for lithium, cobalt, rare‑earths makes the sector vulnerable.
  • Climate goals: Without efficient evacuation, renewable targets become symbolic.
  • Institutional accountability: Lack of performance reviews for CTU/Grid India contrasts with heavy penalties on developers.

Legal / Constitutional Provisions

  • Electricity Act, 2003 (Amended 2020) – mandates open access, non‑discriminatory transmission, and creation of CERC.
  • National Electricity Policy – emphasizes least‑cost generation and efficient transmission.
  • Article 246 of the Constitution – division of powers; central government legislates on inter‑state transmission.

Challenges Identified

  1. Grid Congestion – generation outpaces evacuation capacity.
  2. Under‑utilisation of high‑capacity corridors – due to operational conservatism.
  3. Structural disconnect – CTU allocations vs. Grid India actual flows.
  4. Operational conservatism – reluctance to use STATCOMs, VAR generators, dynamic security assessments.
  5. Lack of storage – insufficient BESS and pumped hydro.
  6. Supply‑chain vulnerabilities – dependence on imported critical minerals.

Recommended Measures

  • Redefine Grid Operator Mandate – balance reliability with asset utilisation; introduce performance metrics.
  • Equitable Curtailment Policy – distribute curtailment proportionally across all generators.
  • Dynamic Capacity Reallocation – real‑time re‑assignment of unused GNA.
  • Automatic Accountability Reviews – trigger independent audits for persistent under‑performance.
  • Adopt Advanced Grid Management – dynamic security assessment, probabilistic risk evaluation, adaptive line rating.
  • Scale Energy Storage – accelerate BESS and pumped hydro deployment to meet 411 GWh target.
  • Strengthen Coordination – align CTU planning with Grid India operations.
  • Promote Domestic Manufacturing – expand ALMM, PLI, and cleantech platforms to reduce import dependence.

Institutional Platforms

  • Bharat Climate Forum (BCF) – multi‑stakeholder platform driving policy consensus for climate action.
  • Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform – aims for a $120‑$150 bn annual market by 2030, creating jobs and export potential.

Conclusion

Efficient transmission and modern grid operations are the missing links in India’s renewable energy journey. Addressing bottlenecks, enhancing storage, and ensuring institutional accountability are essential to translate generation capacity into reliable, clean power and achieve Net‑Zero 2070.

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.