{"id":91658,"date":"2026-03-09T11:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T06:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=91658"},"modified":"2026-03-09T11:40:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T06:10:02","slug":"renewable-energy-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/renewable-energy-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenges to India\u2019s Renewable Energy Transition &#8211; Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Renewable Energy Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns have emerged over <\/span><b>grid congestion and stranded renewable energy capacity in India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, highlighting operational challenges in the country\u2019s renewable energy transition.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>India\u2019s Renewable Energy Transition<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has emerged as one of the world\u2019s leading countries in the transition toward clean and renewable energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s renewable energy sector has witnessed rapid growth due to several factors:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large-scale government policy support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competitive renewable energy auctions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing private investment in solar and wind projects<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falling costs of renewable energy technologies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has also set ambitious energy transition targets, including:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewable sources<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Achieving net-zero emissions by 2070<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, renewable energy capacity in India has expanded rapidly across states such as <\/span><b>Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which possess favourable conditions for solar and wind power generation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, despite impressive growth in installed capacity, several structural and operational challenges have begun to emerge.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Stranded Renewable Power in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most pressing issues facing India\u2019s renewable energy transition is the phenomenon of stranded renewable power.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stranded power refers to situations where electricity generated from renewable sources cannot be transmitted to consumers due to limitations in the power grid.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, in <\/span><b>Rajasthan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, more than 4,000 MW of fully commissioned renewable energy capacity remains unable to evacuate power during peak hours because of grid congestion.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Rajasthan has approximately 23 GW of renewable capacity installed, the available evacuation capacity is only about 18.9 GW, leading to curtailment of power generation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that renewable energy plants that are fully operational cannot deliver electricity to the grid, resulting in financial losses for developers and inefficiencies in the energy system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Transmission Infrastructure Bottlenecks<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transmission infrastructure plays a crucial role in the renewable energy ecosystem because renewable energy generation is often concentrated in specific geographic locations, while electricity demand is spread across the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large transmission corridors have been constructed to transport electricity from renewable-rich regions to demand centres.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, many high-capacity transmission lines are currently operating far below their designed capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, 765 kV double-circuit transmission corridors designed to evacuate around 6,000 MW are often operating at only 600\u20131,000 MW, resulting in utilisation levels below 20%.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These transmission corridors involve massive public investment, with each corridor costing approximately Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 crore.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underutilisation of such infrastructure results in inefficient use of public resources and increases the cost burden on electricity consumers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Institutional and Operational Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A major issue underlying grid congestion is the gap between <\/span><b>infrastructure planning and operational management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transmission corridors are often planned by the <\/span><b>Central Transmission Utility (CTU)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on projected renewable energy capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developers receive <\/span><b>General Network Access (GNA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> approvals, which allow them to connect their power plants to the national grid.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, operational decisions made by grid operators sometimes limit the amount of electricity that can actually flow through these corridors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, a situation arises where infrastructure exists on paper but cannot be fully utilised in practice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This mismatch between planning and operational realities undermines investor confidence and disrupts the renewable energy ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Curtailment and Financial Risks<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Curtailment refers to the forced reduction in electricity generation due to grid constraints.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some regions, curtailment is disproportionately imposed on projects that have <\/span><b>Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while projects with permanent network access continue operating normally.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This creates an uneven distribution of financial risks among renewable energy developers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Projects that face curtailment may experience <\/span><b>complete shutdowns during peak solar hours<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leading to revenue losses and financial distress for investors.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since renewable energy projects involve large upfront investments, prolonged curtailment can discourage future investments in the sector.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Technical Solutions and Global Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of the technical challenges affecting renewable energy integration are solvable through advanced grid management technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some key solutions include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Advanced reactive power technologies:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Devices such as <\/span><b>STATCOMs (Static Synchronous Compensators)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other reactive power equipment can help stabilize voltage and manage power flows.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Dynamic grid management systems:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Modern power systems use real-time monitoring tools such as dynamic security assessment and contingency management to maximise transmission capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Adaptive line rating technologies:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These technologies allow transmission lines to carry more electricity under favourable environmental conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many countries with high renewable energy penetration have adopted such solutions to balance grid stability with efficient power transmission.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Institutional Reforms Needed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts suggest that addressing India\u2019s renewable energy challenges requires stronger institutional coordination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improved grid utilisation targets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Grid operators should be evaluated not only on maintaining stability but also on maximising utilisation of transmission assets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transparent curtailment mechanisms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Curtailment should be distributed proportionately among generators to ensure fairness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dynamic reallocation of network capacity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Unused transmission capacity should be made available to other generators through transparent and real-time mechanisms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Better coordination between planning and operations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Transmission planning agencies and grid operators must align their decisions to ensure that planned infrastructure delivers its intended capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/indias-renewable-transition-caught-between-stranded-power-and-institutional-inertia\/article70708147.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India\u2019s Renewable Energy Transition faces challenges such as grid congestion, stranded renewable power, and institutional inefficiencies in power transmission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":91699,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,5941,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-91658","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-renewable-energy","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91658"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91705,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91658\/revisions\/91705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}