Experts urge transmission alignment to stop 8,133 GWh solar curtailment

Experts at RE: DIALOGUES 2026, held in the capital, urged greater transmission alignment to address growing grid bottlenecks. According to the report cited by ETEnergyWorld Renewables, 8,133 gigawatt hours of solar power were curtailed between April and June 2026. This loss highlights a persistent mismatch between generation capacity and grid infrastructure, a correlation that does not imply direct causation but suggests systemic constraints.

The scale of the issue is underscored by data from May 2026, when 18.1 GW of renewable capacity relied on temporary grid access. Such reliance on interim solutions indicates that permanent transmission upgrades have not kept pace with deployment. Industry participants emphasized that these estimates, while preliminary, point to a critical need for coordinated planning. Without structural improvements, the potential for further curtailment remains a significant risk for the sector’s long-term stability.

Infrastructure Gaps

• 33 percent of 54.8 GW recently commissioned renewable capacity lacked permanent infrastructure.
• Right-of-way constraints and transformer availability were cited as key challenges.
• The distance between generation centres and consumption hubs hinders planning.

The gap between installed capacity and grid readiness is stark. Nearly a third of the 54.8 GW of renewable energy recently brought online does not have permanent transmission infrastructure in place. This shortfall forces operators to rely on interim connections, which are often less efficient and more costly to manage over time. The physical reality of the grid is that power must travel from where it is generated to where it is consumed, and in many regions, these locations are separated by vast distances. This geographical separation complicates planning, as transmission lines must traverse long corridors to bridge the gap between remote generation sites and urban consumption hubs.

Two specific bottlenecks dominate the discussion: right-of-way acquisition and transformer supply. Securing land rights for new transmission corridors is a complex, often slow process involving multiple stakeholders and regulatory approvals. Simultaneously, the availability of high-capacity transformers remains a constraint. These components are essential for stepping up voltage levels for long-distance transmission, and their production and deployment often lag behind the pace of renewable energy installation. When either of these elements is delayed, the entire project timeline slips, leaving newly commissioned solar and wind farms unable to deliver their full output to the grid. Addressing these physical and logistical hurdles requires coordinated action across land management, manufacturing supply chains, and grid planning to ensure that new capacity can actually be utilized.

Strategic Perspectives

Industry leaders participating in the recent dialogue shifted the focus from immediate technical fixes to broader economic and strategic imperatives. Bhupinder Bhalla argued that the energy transition cannot be viewed in isolation from industrial policy. For the sector to sustain momentum, grid expansion and renewable deployment must align with domestic manufacturing capabilities and job creation. This perspective suggests that infrastructure projects should serve a dual purpose: enhancing energy security while simultaneously stimulating local industrial ecosystems. Rather than relying solely on imported components or external expertise, integrating supply chain development into transmission planning could create a more resilient domestic market. This approach positions grid modernization as a driver of economic activity, not just a utility cost.

Nikesh Sinha emphasized the need for a forward-looking assessment of power demand and delivery reliability. He noted that India must evaluate future consumption patterns to ensure that grid upgrades are not merely reactive but anticipatory. Reliable delivery is foundational to consumer confidence and industrial planning. When grids face intermittent bottlenecks, it undermines the predictability that long-term investors and heavy industries require. By prioritizing reliability metrics alongside capacity additions, planners can reduce the volatility that often accompanies rapid renewable integration. This focus on consistency helps stabilize the market environment, making it easier for stakeholders to forecast costs and returns over the lifespan of new generation assets.

Safi Ahsan Rizvi highlighted the role of resource allocation in unlocking further investment. He suggested that more efficient distribution of capital and physical resources could accelerate project timelines. In many cases, delays stem not from a lack of funding but from misdirected efforts or fragmented planning. Streamlining how resources are assigned to different stages of grid development can reduce idle time and lower overall project costs. For investors, clarity in resource allocation signals a more transparent and predictable regulatory environment. This efficiency is critical for attracting the scale of private capital needed to bridge the gap between installed capacity and grid readiness, ensuring that financial inputs translate directly into operational reliability.

What to watch

The immediate next step involves tracking how the Policy Perspectives Foundation and Orange Circle Energy, the organisers of the recent dialogue, translate these discussions into actionable policy frameworks. While the conversation highlighted urgent structural gaps, the transition from expert recommendation to regulatory implementation often faces significant delays. Readers should monitor whether these two groups facilitate formal working sessions with grid planners or energy ministries to address the specific bottlenecks identified.

A key open question remains regarding the timeline for permanent transmission upgrades. The reliance on temporary grid access for a substantial portion of new renewable capacity suggests that interim solutions will persist unless permanent infrastructure is fast-tracked. Observers should look for announcements on right-of-way acquisition progress and transformer supply chain commitments, as these physical constraints were cited as primary hurdles.

The alignment between industrial policy and grid expansion requires concrete milestones. If the sector is to move beyond reactive measures, future reports should detail how domestic manufacturing capabilities are being integrated into transmission projects. Investors and developers will likely scrutinize any new funding mechanisms or regulatory clarifications that emerge from this engagement. The focus should remain on whether the proposed resource allocation strategies lead to measurable reductions in project idle time. Without clear progress on these fronts, the risk of continued curtailment remains high, potentially undermining the economic case for further renewable deployment in the coming quarters.