India’s CEA Boosts Renewable Energy Transmission Infrastructure

India's Central Power Authority (CEA) aims to build transmission infrastructure for 60-70 GW of renewable capacity this fiscal year, addressing grid stability and discom visibility for distributed renewable energy.

Targeting Renewable Energy Transmission

The Central Power Authority (CEA) is focusing on building transmission infrastructure to evacuate 60-70 gigawatts (Gw) of power generation capacity in the existing fiscal year, its Chairman Ghanshyam Prasad stated on Wednesday.

According to Prasad, the federal government has established a hostile 18-24-month target for transmission provider, in accordance with the gestation duration of the majority of renewable resource tasks. The CEA is functioning to enhance predictability in transmission timelines and much better align them with renewable resource job schedules to avoid the creation of stranded properties.

Challenges in Grid Management

Prasad likewise called for plan intervention to make sure distribution firms (discoms) have better presence of dispersed renewable energy (DRE) ability and can appropriately support such projects. DRE added 16.3 Gw to complete renewable resource enhancements in 2025-26, including 7.6 Gw mounted under the PM KUSUM plan and 8.7 Gw from rooftop solar projects.

“We have actually seen a number of trippings in Rajasthan because of grid concerns, specifically short-circuit-related issues. Oscillations in the grid have actually resulted in the loss of about 8,000 megawatts (Mw) in Rajasthan, and very lately around 9,000 Mw was shed in Karnataka within no time at all,” he said.

Solutions for Grid Enhancement

Speaking at a conference on energy shift arranged by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Business and Industry (Ficci), Prasad stated, “In the present year, we will appoint at least 60 Gw, or maybe touch 70 Gw, of connection for renewable resource tasks.”

While synchronous condensers use a remedy, their setup cost is substantial– around 2 crore per Mw, stated Prasad. “If we can speed up the advancement of hydro and pumped-storage projects, points will most likely enhance,” he added.