Transmission Delays Hamper Renewable Energy Evacuation in Rajasthan
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has highlighted a critical issue facing India's renewable energy sector: transmission infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with the rapid deployment of solar and wind projects. According to MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi, this mismatch is causing significant curtailment of renewable power in Rajasthan, particularly during peak solar hours.
Fatehgarh Transmission Line as the Solution
Sarangi revealed that the commissioning of the Fatehgarh transmission line is expected to dramatically reduce renewable energy curtailment in Rajasthan. "The remaining 2 GW will also be evacuated once the transmission line in Rajasthan's Fatehgarh gets commissioned. Within a month, that line will be ready. After that, we do not foresee any curtailment in Rajasthan," he stated confidently.
This development follows the recent operationalization of the Khetri-Narela transmission line in December, which has already helped evacuate part of the approximately 4 gigawatts of RE capacity that was previously stranded without connectivity.
The Structural Challenge of Faster Renewable Deployment
Sarangi explained the fundamental problem: renewable energy projects are being completed much faster than traditional transmission infrastructure can be built. "A coal-based power plant typically takes five to six years to become operational. So, the transmission system used to get ready by that time. But now, a solar power plant is coming up within anything between one to two years. A wind turbine is getting ready within a one-year period, whereas the transmission system is still taking three to four to five years," he elaborated.
This timing mismatch creates evacuation bottlenecks that force grid operators to curtail renewable generation, especially in states like Rajasthan that have massive solar potential but inadequate transmission capacity to deliver that power to load centers.
Delayed Transmission Projects Aggravate the Problem
The MNRE Secretary acknowledged that delays in key transmission projects have worsened the curtailment situation. "Some of the transmission lines which were getting ready from Rajasthan were slightly delayed. The Khetri-Narela line which was delayed and eventually got operational in December. So, when that line is not ready to evacuate power, it will lead to curtailment," Sarangi explained.
He emphasized that large-scale renewable integration requires proportional expansion of transmission infrastructure. "So, if you want to integrate more and more RE, you will also have to be ready with more transmission lines to evacuate power from RE zones to the non-renewable energy load centers," he added.
Power Grid's Proactive Approach
To address this challenge, Sarangi noted that Power Grid Corporation of India is implementing advanced tenders for transmission projects. "Because once we declare a certain area as a renewable energy potential area, then irrespective of the number of applications received, Power Grid is going ahead," he said.
He further explained that a national committee on transmission headed by the Central Electricity Authority makes decisions to proceed with projects regardless of whether sufficient applications have been received, ensuring infrastructure development keeps pace with renewable potential.
Broader Sector Challenges
Transmission connectivity has emerged as a critical bottleneck for India's renewable energy sector. Recent data reveals additional challenges:
- Approximately 31.8 GW of RE capacity has been granted connectivity but lacks power purchase agreements (PPAs)
- At least 42 GW of RE capacity remains without PPAs
- Rating agency ICRA has flagged concerns about declining project awards and PPA signing delays
These factors contribute to underutilization of transmission infrastructure even as it struggles to keep up with renewable deployment.
India's Renewable Growth Amid Infrastructure Challenges
Despite these transmission challenges, India's renewable energy capacity continues to expand rapidly:
- The country added 44.51 GW of renewable capacity during the year till November
- This represents nearly double the 24.72 GW added during the same period last year
- Total installed RE capacity reached 253.96 GW in November 2025
- This marks an increase of over 23% from 205.52 GW in November 2024
Simultaneously, India's national power transmission network achieved a significant milestone on January 14, surpassing 5 lakh circuit kilometers of transmission lines (220 kV and above). This included commissioning a 628 ckm 765 kV transmission line from Bhadla II to Sikar II substation specifically for evacuating renewable power from Rajasthan.
The government confirmed that this new transmission line enables evacuation of an additional 1,100 MW of power from Rajasthan's RE zones including Bhadla, Ramgarh, and Fatehgarh Solar Power Complex.
The Fatehgarh transmission line's imminent commissioning represents a crucial step toward resolving Rajasthan's renewable energy curtailment issues, though broader challenges in transmission infrastructure development and PPA finalization continue to affect India's renewable energy sector growth.
