The power ministry has announced its goal to dramatically expand India’s renewable energy grid capacity by 2032. The estimated 9.5 trillion rupees project aims to build the capacity for up to 500 GWs of renewable power by the end of this decade. This is more than double the current capacity.
A statement released by the ministry on Monday highlights the critical need for this upgrade, pointing out that transmission constraints have become a major hurdle in scaling up renewable energy worldwide. The surge in demand for renewable power is responsible for delayed delivery and rising costs of grid infrastructure. This challenge is not unique to India.
The world-over countries or grappling with the strain on their grids as they aim to boost renewable energy. In the US nearly 1.6 terrawatts of renewable energy projects and one terawatt of energy storage are stalled for the want of grid connection according to an April report from Berkeley Lab. These figures underscore the global urgency for efficient grid solutions as nations push towards cleaner energy sources
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A key feature of India's grid modernisation plan is the reliance on high-voltage direct current lines, which are designed to transmit large volumes of power over long distance with minimal loss of energy. These lines will play a vital role in linking India's vast solar and wind farms with its cities and industrial hubs. However, this has raised concerns among renewable energy developers about potential delays in project timelines given that global supply chain bottlenecks for transmission equipment are unlikely to ease up any time soon.
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