BY COMFORT OGBONNA
India is losing access to a significant portion of its solar power potential because of limitations in its electricity transmission network, creating a major challenge as the country rapidly expands renewable energy capacity.
Nearly 7% of India’s installed solar power capacity cannot operate at full output during peak generation periods because existing transmission infrastructure is unable to carry the additional electricity to the national grid, according to information presented to lawmakers on Wednesday.
About 12 gigawatts of India’s installed clean energy capacity currently cannot deliver its maximum output due to transmission constraints, power officials said. The restrictions are most common during peak sunlight hours, when solar plants generate the highest amount of electricity and power flows can exceed the capacity of available transmission lines.
India has expanded its solar energy sector rapidly in recent years, with installed solar capacity reaching about 162 gigawatts. Solar power now represents nearly one-third of the country’s total non-fossil fuel electricity capacity as the nation works to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources.
Officials said another challenge is that around 21 gigawatts of clean energy capacity is currently connected to the grid through temporary arrangements while permanent transmission systems are being developed.
The mismatch between the timing of renewable energy projects and the completion of supporting grid infrastructure has become a growing issue. While solar and other clean energy facilities have been built at a fast pace, transmission networks have struggled to expand quickly enough to transport electricity from generation sites to areas where demand is highest.
The problem highlights one of the biggest obstacles facing India as it attempts to increase renewable energy capacity toward a long-term target of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel power capacity, up from about 296 gigawatts currently.
Government data showed that India was unable to deliver 8,133 gigawatt hours of solar electricity to the grid between April and June because of transmission bottlenecks. That amount exceeded the 6,900 gigawatt hours of solar power losses recorded during the entire 2025-2026 period.
The growing gap between renewable energy production and transmission capacity could slow India’s clean energy transition if infrastructure investments do not keep pace with new solar installations.
Energy experts say expanding transmission networks, improving grid flexibility and completing dedicated power corridors will be essential for India to fully benefit from its growing renewable energy sector.
As the country continues adding solar projects, ensuring that electricity generated by these facilities can reliably reach consumers will remain a critical part of India’s effort to build a cleaner and more secure energy system.
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