Renewable Energy Curtailment: A Major Challenge for India's Clean Energy Transition
Renewable energy curtailment critical issue: MNRE Secy
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, highlighted the critical issue of renewable energy curtailment in India during the Confederation of Indian Industry Annual Business Summit 2026. He emphasized urgent measures to enhance grid capacity and proposed incentives for diversified clean energy projects to address the growing challenges of solar power absorption.
- 01Renewable energy curtailment is a significant challenge for India's clean energy transition.
- 02In April, solar power curtailment averaged 23 GWh daily, a 74% increase compared to earlier months.
- 03The government plans to enhance the Green Energy Corridor scheme and promote agri-photovoltaic and floating solar projects.
- 04India aims for a large-scale transmission network similar to China's super grid model to support 1,800 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2050.
- 05Investment in research and innovation is crucial to reduce renewable energy costs and improve storage technologies.
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During the Confederation of Indian Industry Annual Business Summit 2026, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, addressed the urgent challenge of renewable energy curtailment in India. He noted that the grid's capacity to absorb excess solar power is critical, as evidenced by an average daily curtailment of 23 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in April, which is 74% higher than the previous months. To tackle this issue, Sarangi proposed enhancing the Green Energy Corridor scheme, which aims to equip states with the necessary infrastructure for renewable energy evacuation. Additionally, he mentioned the introduction of incentives for agri-photovoltaic and floating solar projects to promote geographical diversification in clean energy development. Looking ahead, Sarangi stressed the need for a robust transmission network akin to China's super grid model, requiring substantial investment to support India's goal of achieving 1,800 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2050. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable policy environment to encourage investment in renewable energy and storage technologies.
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The curtailment of renewable energy affects power supply stability and can hinder the growth of the clean energy sector, impacting consumers and industries reliant on electricity.
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