India’s renewable energy expansion is facing a growing infrastructure challenge as transmission networks struggle to keep pace with the commissioning of solar and wind projects. Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has identified delays in transmission infrastructure as a primary reason for renewable power curtailment, challenging concerns that the country has added more generation capacity than its electricity system can accommodate. He said renewable energy projects are generally developed against identified demand through power purchase agreements, contracts with commercial and industrial consumers, and distributed generation schemes such as PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar.
The scale of the problem became evident during April to June 2026, when approximately 8,133 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of solar electricity was curtailed, according to information provided by MNRE to Parliament. Monthly curtailment reached 2,417 GWh in April, increased to 3,235 GWh in May and stood at 2,481 GWh in June. The total was equivalent to around one and a half days of electricity consumption across India during the period. The restrictions were imposed because of transmission bottlenecks and grid security requirements, limiting the amount of solar electricity that could be delivered to the power system.
A key constraint is the difference between the time required to commission renewable generation projects and the longer period needed to develop supporting transmission infrastructure. Some projects rely on Temporary General Network Access, which permits electricity injection when spare capacity is available on the network. However, this arrangement does not guarantee transmission access at all times, leaving generators exposed to restrictions when the grid becomes congested. Sarangi has emphasized that completing delayed transmission lines is central to addressing the problem.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are emerging as another important part of the solution. Transmission lines serving solar-heavy regions are typically used for around six to eight hours during daylight, when solar generation is highest. Storing surplus electricity during these hours and releasing it later could extend the useful operating period of existing infrastructure. According to Sarangi, combining renewable generation with storage could nearly double transmission utilization in some solar-dominated areas, while enabling more projects to connect to existing substations.
The storage requirement is also expected to increase substantially. A report by Rubix Data Sciences, published in October 2026, projects that India's battery energy storage requirement will rise from 34.72 GWh in financial year 2026-27 to 236.22 GWh by FY2031-32. The estimated investment needed to meet this requirement is approximately ₹3.49 trillion. As of August 2026, the identified BESS project pipeline totalled 176.66 GWh across operational projects, projects under construction, awarded capacity and projects under tendering. However, only 9.08 GWh was operational, highlighting the importance of converting planned capacity into functioning storage assets.
Sarangi has indicated that India will need both co-located and standalone storage projects. Co-located systems can help renewable plants use their existing grid connections more effectively, while standalone installations can absorb surplus electricity and support peak-demand management. These complementary applications could improve grid flexibility as renewable generation increases, although storage deployment must progress alongside transmission construction rather than serve as a substitute for adequate network capacity.
Regulatory changes could also address a separate obstacle affecting project development. Nearly 45 GW of renewable energy projects have received grid connectivity but remain unable to secure power purchase agreements. Sarangi said a proposed amendment by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission could give developers an exit option by allowing them to surrender connectivity without forfeiting the associated bank guarantee. If implemented, the change could provide greater flexibility for projects unable to advance under their existing arrangements.
India's ability to integrate additional renewable generation will therefore depend on coordinated progress across transmission planning, grid infrastructure, energy storage and regulatory frameworks. The government has planned transmission systems to support more than 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, while its infrastructure programme includes interstate and intrastate network expansion. Timely execution will be essential to reduce avoidable electricity curtailment, improve the utilization of existing assets and ensure that new renewable capacity translates into electricity delivered to consumers.