India curtails 8,133 GWh of solar power as grid struggles to absorb excess daytime supply
India curtailed (held back) approximately 8,133 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of solar power during the April-June quarter, as the electricity grid struggled to absorb excess daytime supply
Month-wise curtailment was reported at roughly 2,417 GWh in April, 3,235 GWh in May, and 2,481 GWh in June
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) attributed the curtailment to transmission bottlenecks and a mismatch between the commissioning schedules of renewable energy projects and the transmission lines meant to evacuate their power
The disclosure highlights a structural challenge as India scales renewable capacity toward its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, from an installed base of roughly 288 GW currently
"Must-Run" Status and the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC)
Under the Indian Electricity Grid Code, notified by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) under the Electricity Act, 2003, renewable energy (solar and wind) generation is accorded "must-run" status — meaning grid operators cannot curtail renewable generation except for reasons of grid security or safety of personnel and equipment. Load Despatch Centres are statutorily responsible for maximising evacuation of available renewable generation before curtailing it.
Key Details
- IEGC is issued under Section 79 read with related provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, giving CERC regulatory authority over inter-state transmission
- Curtailment of ISTS (Inter-State Transmission System)-connected renewable projects is permitted only for system-wide emergencies (e.g., use of Tertiary Reserve Ancillary Services) or genuine transmission-infrastructure constraints — not as a routine dispatch tool
- Renewable Energy Management Centres (REMCs) were set up specifically to forecast, schedule, and manage variable renewable generation to minimise curtailment
- Generators curtailed without valid grid-security grounds are, in principle, entitled to compensation — a recurring dispute area between solar developers and state utilities
The reported 8,133 GWh curtailment sits at the friction point of "must-run" status versus real-world transmission capacity — even though renewables have priority dispatch on paper, the physical grid could not carry all the daytime solar output, forcing curtailment despite the regulatory protection.
Green Energy Corridor Scheme
The Green Energy Corridor (GEC) scheme is a dedicated transmission infrastructure programme by the Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to build intra-state and inter-state transmission lines specifically for evacuating renewable power, preventing the kind of wastage described in this news.
Key Details
- GEC comprises both the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) and Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) components, executed largely through Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and state transmission utilities
- GEC Phase-II (approved 2021) targets renewable-rich states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and others
- GEC Phase-II envisages over 20,000 MW of dedicated additional renewable-evacuation transmission capacity, targeted for completion by around 2028
- The scheme is financially supported partly through central financial assistance and partly through multilateral funding (e.g., German KfW-supported lines under GEC Phase-I)
The curtailment episode is direct evidence of the gap the Green Energy Corridor programme is meant to close — new solar capacity is coming online faster than the dedicated evacuation transmission lines meant to carry that power to demand centres.
India's Renewable Energy Targets and National Electricity Plan
India's renewable capacity expansion is guided by its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments and the National Electricity Plan prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which sequences generation and transmission capacity addition together.
Key Details
- India's updated NDC (2022) targets 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030
- The government's stated target is 500 GW of non-fossil (renewable + nuclear + large hydro) capacity by 2030; installed renewable capacity is currently around 288 GW (per the ministry's own figures cited in this disclosure)
- The National Electricity Plan (Transmission), prepared by CEA under the Electricity Act, 2003, is meant to ensure transmission capacity keeps pace with generation capacity addition
- Curtailment losses translate into reduced Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) compliance efficiency for distribution utilities, an area of continuing regulatory scrutiny by state electricity regulatory commissions
The reported curtailment illustrates a widening gap between generation-side and transmission-side planning, relevant for Mains answers on infrastructure bottlenecks in India's energy transition and the coordination challenges between MNRE (generation) and the Ministry of Power/PGCIL (transmission).
- Total solar curtailment, April-June quarter: ~8,133 GWh
- Monthly breakup: April ~2,417 GWh, May ~3,235 GWh, June ~2,481 GWh
- India's current installed renewable capacity: ~288 GW
- India's 2030 non-fossil fuel capacity target: 500 GW
- India's NDC (2022) target: 50% cumulative installed electric capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030
- Green Energy Corridor Phase-II: over 20,000 MW of dedicated renewable-evacuation transmission capacity targeted, completion around 2028