Renewable energy curtailment critical issue: MNRE Secy, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• Renewable energy curtailment is a critical challenge for India's clean energy transition due to transmission constraints and excess daytime generation.
• In April 2026, an average of 23 GWh of solar power was curtailed daily, enough to power one-fourth of Delhi for a day.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is proposing a larger outlay for the Green Energy Corridor scheme.
• India achieved 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol by April 1, 2026, ahead of the original 2030 target.
• During 2014-24, Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) resulted in crude oil substitution of about 193 lakh metric tonnes.

Detailed Insights:

• MNRE emphasizes the urgent need to modernize the grid to absorb more renewable energy through battery storage, grid-forming inverters, and synchronous condensers.
• Geographically diversified clean energy development is being encouraged through incentives for agri-photovoltaic and floating solar projects, as renewable energy deployment is concentrated in a few states.
• India may eventually require a large-scale transmission network similar to China's "super grid" model to handle the increasing renewable energy capacity.
• Achieving E20 has made India the third-largest ethanol producer, but crude import bill reduction was only 3% despite achieving the blending rate.
• Higher ethanol blends necessitate new distillery investments, expansion of existing facilities, and scaled-up storage and transportation infrastructure.
• Scaling second-generation (2G) ethanol, produced from agricultural residues and non-food biomass, is a priority to address environmental and food concerns associated with first-generation ethanol.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Renewable Energy Curtailment: Reduction in the output of renewable energy sources due to grid limitations or oversupply.
• Green Energy Corridor: Scheme to facilitate the transmission of renewable energy across states.
• Ethanol Blending: Mixing ethanol with gasoline to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on imported crude oil.