India's Renewable Energy Expansion Hampered by Transmission Challenges
'Grid bottlenecks, execution risks slow power expansion': Report
The Economic TimesImage: The Economic Times
A report by InGovern Research Services reveals that India's renewable energy ambitions are hindered by transmission bottlenecks and execution risks, primarily affecting Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). The company, which controls 84% of inter-regional transmission capacity, faces delays in project execution due to land acquisition and other challenges.
- 01PGCIL controls nearly 84% of India's inter-regional transmission capacity.
- 02Execution delays for ongoing projects have increased by 6-24 months due to various challenges.
- 03PGCIL's return on net worth has dropped from 18.5% to 15.3% in recent months.
- 04Capital tied up in unfinished projects has surged to approximately ₹1.2 lakh crore.
- 05Dividend payouts have decreased significantly as PGCIL retains earnings for capital expenditure.
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India's transition to renewable energy is facing significant hurdles, as highlighted in a report by InGovern Research Services. The Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) holds a dominant position, controlling 84% of the country's inter-regional transmission capacity. However, execution risks are mounting, with delays in project completion ranging from 6 to 24 months due to issues like land acquisition and forest clearance. PGCIL is currently managing an aggressive capital expenditure program of ₹3 lakh crore (approximately $360 billion USD) through FY32, but these delays are impacting its financial performance. The company's return on net worth has fallen from 18.5% in FY23 to 15.3% in the first nine months of FY26, with a projected decline in profitability due to the tariff-based competitive bidding framework. Furthermore, capital work-in-progress has reached ₹1.2 lakh crore, and the debt-to-equity ratio has risen to 1.45x, indicating increased leverage. Despite stable annual profits of ₹15,000-16,000 crore, PGCIL's stock performance has lagged behind the Nifty 50 index, raising concerns among analysts about execution risks and capital efficiency.
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The delays in project execution could lead to higher electricity prices and affect the reliability of power supply, impacting consumers and businesses reliant on renewable energy.
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