Transmission Grid Delays Force India to Curtail Green Power
India's ambitious renewable energy expansion is encountering a serious obstacle: delays in building transmission infrastructure are forcing large-scale curtailment of green power, according to a new analysis by Ember, an energy think-tank.
The report states that transmission constraints accounted for nearly two-thirds of the 470 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy curtailed in the first quarter of 2026. The problem is most acute in Rajasthan and Gujarat, states that host the majority of India's utility-scale solar and wind projects. India's total installed power generation capacity stands at 543 gigawatts (GW), with solar contributing 154 GW and wind 56 GW.
The growing mismatch between the pace of renewable energy deployment and transmission readiness is emerging as a significant operational risk for the sector. Duttatreya Das, energy analyst at Ember, said, 'India's renewable energy curtailment arising from transmission constraints is beginning to reach materially significant levels.' He suggested that the system must move away from 'generation-led transmission planning' towards a model where generation and transmission are planned together.
An official from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy acknowledged that curtailment is becoming a concern and stated that the government is working on solutions. 'Large-scale deployment of battery energy storage systems and grid-forming inverters will be crucial for integrating renewable energy into the grid,' the official said. 'We are in regular touch with the power ministry and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for enhancement of transmission capacity.'
According to Ember, India has achieved only about 80% of its annual transmission targets over the past five years, leading to a growing backlog. For the fiscal year 2027 alone, the requirement for additional inter-state transmission capacity has been estimated at over 61,000 circuit kilometres.
The delays are driven by right-of-way disputes, land acquisition hurdles, forest clearances, and supply constraints for critical high-voltage transmission equipment, the report noted.
