The recent Power Line TransTech India 2025 conference and exhibition featured a session on “Focus on Renewable Energy Evacuation”, wherein the panelists discussed the status of interstate and intra-state transmission planning, regional congestion, connectivity and regulatory challenges, and the role of storage and integrated project structures in improving evacuation readiness. The panellists included Deepak Consul, Head, Grid & Connectivity, Gentari Renewables; Manju Gupta, Executive Director, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (Powergrid); Deepak Khare, Senior Vice-President and Head of Projects, BluPine Energy; and Mahesh Vipradas, Vice-President, Sembcorp India. Edited excerpts…
Transmission planning and execution challenges
At the national level, renewable evacuation planning is anchored in the interstate transmission system (ISTS), which is expected to carry a significant share of future renewable capacity. Of the 400 GW of solar and wind capacity targeted by 2030, around 230 GW is planned to be connected through the ISTS, and the remaining capacity being linked through intra-state networks. Transmission systems corresponding to most of the identified ISTS-linked renewable capacity have already been planned, with a substantial portion under construction and some projects under competitive bidding. This indicates a broad alignment between transmission planning and renewable capacity targets. However, execution challenges continue to delay asset creation on the ground. Right-of-way (RoW) constraints remain the most persistent obstacle, particularly in densely populated and agriculture-intensive regions. These issues are compounded by land access challenges, procedural delays and supply chain disruptions, extending construction timelines and inhibiting transmission infrastructure from keeping pace with rapidly commissioned renewable generation projects. The concentration of renewable capacity in a limited number of solar and wind-rich states has further intensified pressure on transmission networks in these regions. While there is congestion during peak generation periods, other parts of the network experience low utilisation, highlighting imbalances in network loads. Transmission lines built specifically for renewable evacuation often operate at low average utilisation levels due to the variable nature of solar and wind generation, while curtailment risks increase during periods of high output. Moreover, while renewable projects can be commissioned within two years, transmission systems often take over three years, creating a persistent mismatch that affects project timelines, asset utilisation and investor confidence. Addressing this concern requires coordinated action across policy, planning, regulation and technology.
Storage and integrated project structures
The divergent utilisation patterns have exposed the limitations of evacuation infrastructure designed primarily around installed capacity. Stand-alone solar and wind projects are particularly vulnerable, as they depend entirely on evacuation availability at the time of commissioning. In contrast, round-the-clock (RTC) and hybrid renewable projects, which combine multiple generation sources and storage, are better positioned to manage scheduling and connectivity constraints. Integrated project structures are increasingly being viewed as a means of improving grid utilisation while reducing congestion and curtailment risks. Energy storage is emerging as a key enabler in this transition. While pumped storage projects offer large-scale balancing capability, deployment is constrained by site availability, delays in environmental clearances and long development timelines. Battery energy storage systems provide a more flexible alternative, with shorter gestation periods and the ability to be deployed alongside renewable plants. Government support measures, are expected to accelerate adoption and strengthen the role of storage in evacuation planning.
The way forward
Transmission connectivity is governed by a structured regulatory framework, with planning based on declared renewable potential and available margins at substations. While there is progress at the interstate level, intra-state transmission development continues to face challenges. Land acquisition and RoW approvals remain key bottlenecks, even as the Green Energy Corridors scheme provides financial and planning support to accelerate state-level transmission build-out. While some states have made significant progress under earlier phases of the programme, implementation delays persist in others due to local administrative and regulatory constraints.As renewable penetration increases, transmission planning is shifting from capacity expansion to system integration and optimisation. Storage, hybrid configurations and flexible connectivity arrangements are becoming central to this approach. Competitive tariffs discovered in RTC renewable energy tenders indicate growing confidence in integrated models that combine generation, storage and efficient evacuation. Going forward, sustaining India’s renewable energy growth will depend on timely transmission execution, effective regulatory coordination and deeper integration of storage into grid planning. While planning frameworks are largely in place, the effectiveness of the transmission network in supporting the next phase of renewable expansion will be determined by how efficiently these elements are implemented on the ground.
