Transmission lags behind RE power curtailment: MNRE Secy, Pg19

Key Highlights:

• Renewable Energy (RE) curtailment in Rajasthan is expected to decrease significantly with the commissioning of the Fatehgarh transmission line.
• Approximately 4 GW of RE capacity was initially without connectivity, but the Khetri-Narela transmission line, commissioned in December, has evacuated part of this capacity.
• The remaining 2 GW is expected to be evacuated upon the commissioning of the Fatehgarh transmission line within a month.
• India added 44.51 GW of renewable capacity during the year until November 2025, nearly double the 24.72 GW added during the same period last year.
• Total installed RE capacity reached 253.96 GW in November 2025, a 23% increase from 205.52 GW in November 2024.
• India’s national power transmission network surpassed 5 lakh circuit kilometers (ckm) on January 14, including a 628 ckm transmission line from Bhadla II to Sikar II.

Detailed Insights:

• RE curtailment is primarily due to the mismatch between the rapid commissioning of renewable projects and the longer time required to establish transmission infrastructure.
• Solar power plants can become operational within 1-2 years, and wind turbines within one year, while transmission systems take 3-5 years to complete.
• Delays in key transmission projects in Rajasthan, such as the Khetri-Narela line, have exacerbated the curtailment problem.
• Large-scale integration of RE necessitates a proportional expansion of transmission infrastructure to evacuate power from RE zones to load centers.
• Power Grid Corp. of India is addressing this issue through advanced tenders, proceeding with projects in declared renewable energy potential areas regardless of the number of applications received.
• CERC noted that approximately 31.8 GW of RE capacity had been granted connectivity but lacked power purchase agreements (PPAs), leading to underutilisation of transmission infrastructure.
• At least 42 GW of RE capacity remains without PPAs, and ICRA has flagged concerns over declining project awards and delays in PPA signings.
• The commissioning of the Bhadla II to Sikar II transmission line will enable the evacuation of an additional 1,100 MW of power from the RE zones of Bhadla, Ramgarh, and Fatehgarh Solar Power Complex.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Renewable Energy (RE): Energy derived from natural processes that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.
• Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): A contractual agreement between two parties, where one sells electricity and the other agrees to purchase it.
• Curtailment: A reduction in the output of a renewable energy generator, typically due to transmission constraints or oversupply.
• Transmission Infrastructure: The network of lines, substations, and other equipment used to transmit electricity from generation sources to consumers.