Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 11: In a bid to boost India’s power grid Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is reportedly all set to seek nod from the Cabinet for its third phase green energy corridor in the country. The project will be built at a cost of Rs 50,000 crore. Since the renewable energy capacity has outpaced the transmission infrastructure and is aiming to aid the consumers to move more towards the use of green power.
Reportedly, “India has been rapidly adding its solar and wind power capacities, following which the existing power grid’s ability to evacuate the power has not only been outpaced, but has also resulted in the generation curtailment. Thus, this has emerged as a major hurdle to India’s achievement of the targeted 2030 clean energy goals. The Government of India has estimated the requirement of 61,411 Circuit Kilometre (CKM) of additional Inter State Transmission System capacity by the fiscal year 2029-30 (FY30), while India has a transmission capacity of 5,08,535 CKM.”
Media reports, citing sources in the (GoI), state, “This Rs 50,000 crore worth third phase green energy corridor is going to strengthen the intra-state transmission networks in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.”
Media reports have also stated, “India has recorded an electricity curtailment equivalent to 18% of the average monthly solar generation of 13 terawatt hours (TWh), which is resulting in compensation payouts. Curtailment of solar and wind power generation takes place due to inadequate transmission capacity despite the growing renewable energy capacity in the country.”
Notably, “India’s green energy corridor project was launched in 2015 that comprises Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) and Intra State Transmission System (InSTS) along with the setting up of Renewable Energy Management Centres (REMCs) and Control Infrastructure Storage Systems (CISSs). While Rs 10,000 crore was invested in the first phase of InSTS for evacuation of 24 gigawatt renewable energy (GW RE), it has already been commissioned. While Rs 12,000 crore has been invested in the second phase of InSTS for evacuation of around 20 gigawatt renewable energy (GW RE), it is under implementation currently and is expected to be completed by the end of this ongoing fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27)”.
