India Faces Significant Renewable Energy Curtailment Amid Record Power Demand
India curtailed 31 GW of renewable energy capacity in Q4 FY26: CREA
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In the January-March quarter of FY26, India curtailed 31 GW of renewable energy capacity due to inadequate transmission and system flexibility, coinciding with a peak power demand of 256 GW. The report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) highlights the urgent need for investments in storage and infrastructure to prevent waste of clean energy.
- 01India curtailed 31 GW of renewable energy capacity in Q4 FY26 due to transmission issues.
- 02Peak power demand reached an all-time high of 256 GW on April 25, 2026.
- 03Gujarat experienced the highest curtailment, with 20 GW of solar and 3 GW of wind energy curtailed.
- 04The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission is advocating for reduced minimum technical load and improved operational practices.
- 05Solar generation increased by 24% year-on-year despite significant curtailments.
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In the January-March quarter of FY26, India faced a significant curtailment of 31 GW in renewable energy capacity, primarily due to limitations in transmission capacity and system flexibility. This occurred during a period of peak power demand, which reached an unprecedented 256 GW on April 25, 2026. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reported that out of the curtailed capacity, approximately 27 GW of solar and 4 GW of wind generation were affected. Gujarat recorded the highest levels of curtailment, with 20 GW of solar and 3 GW of wind energy curtailed. The report emphasized the need for investments in battery storage, transmission upgrades, and demand-side management to mitigate the waste of clean energy. It also noted that the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission is working to reduce the minimum technical load from 55% to 40% and is exploring two-shift operations to enhance system flexibility. Despite the curtailment, solar generation saw a 24% increase year-on-year, with the highest daily output recorded at 658 million units on March 27. This highlights the growing alignment between peak demand and solar generation hours, indicating a critical need for infrastructure improvements to support India's renewable energy goals.
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The curtailment of renewable energy capacity indicates a pressing need for infrastructure improvements in India's power sector, which could lead to wasted clean energy and hinder the transition to a more sustainable energy system.
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