As India accelerates towards its ambitious targets of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and attaining net-zero emissions by 2070, the development of a robust power transmission network will play a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient delivery of generated power. To support this, the government has taken significant steps to strengthen the transmission infrastructure and enable the seamless integration of renewable energy into the grid. Marking a major achievement, India has recently surpassed 500 GW of total installed power capacity, with non-fossil fuel sources accounting for more than half of it. This progress means that the country has reached one of its key COP26 Panchamrit commitments – achieving 50 per cent of its installed electric power capacity from non-fossil sources – five years ahead of schedule.
With the rapid expansion of clean energy capacity, the power transmission grid is encountering increasing challenges in maintaining reliability and stability. To facilitate the secure evacuation of renewable power, the government has placed a strong emphasis on developing energy storage systems to enhance the utilisation of existing transmission assets. At the same time, new inter- and intra-state transmission networks are being planned to match the pace of renewable energy growth. Efforts are also under way to strengthen grid interconnections, improve voltage and angular stability and minimise transmission losses.
Renewable energy evacuation
Green energy corridors help minimise curtailment, enhance grid stability and provide dedicated intra- and interstate transmission capacity supported by advanced control technologies and grid upgrades. Together, these measures ensure a cost-effective and reliable round-the-clock power supply.
GEC-I: The Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-I (InSTS GEC-I) scheme is being implemented by the state transmission utilities of eight renewable energy-rich states – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu – to establish 9,767 circuit (ckt) km of transmission lines and 22,689 MVA of substation capacity, facilitating the integration of 24 GW of clean energy. States such as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have completed their projects, while states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra received scheme extension till June 2025, with further extensions requested till December 2025. With respect to financial progress, as of July 2025, over Rs 28.39 billion has been released against the sanctioned grant of Rs 31.64 billion.
GEC-II: The Green Energy Corridor-II (InSTS GEC Phase II) is being executed in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to establish 7,919 ckt km of transmission lines and 24,488 MVA of substations to evacuate 20 GW of clean energy.
GEC-III: The Indian government plans to advance the third phase of the GEC scheme to enhance intra-state renewable energy transmission capability. Under Union Budget 2025-26, the allocated fund for GEC-III is estimated at Rs 560 billion, of which the central government will contribute about Rs 224 billion or 40 per cent of the total budget. The remaining funds will come from state governments and stakeholders. Key states in this phase include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, with over Rs 290 billion projected from Gujarat.
Renewable energy zones
There is a strong emphasis on developing renewable energy zones and large-scale solar parks, including major projects at Bhadla, Khavda and Leh. Renewable energy potential zones are concentrated in a few states and that too far away from the load centres, necessitating the transfer of bulk power from the renewable energy potential zones to the load centres. For long-distance power transmission, generated power is stepped up to 220 kV and further to 400 kV and 765 kV, depending on the quantum of power and the associated distance. Thereafter, at load centres, it is again stepped down from 765 kV to 400 kV and further to 220 kV and lower voltages.
While several states have begun establishing these zones, gaps remain in the associated transmission connectivity. India’s key renewable energy potential areas are concentrated in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the Leh region, where timely transmission development will be critical for harnessing their full potential. Transmission system has been planned for over 600 GW of renewable energy capacity/potential zones by the year 2031-32.
BESS
In October 2024, the Ministry of Power launched the National Electricity Plan (NEP) for transmission, with the aim to transmit 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and over 600 GW by 2032. With the rise of renewable energy, storage systems have become critical to absorb surplus clean energy and reduce curtailments. NEP-Transmission projects a battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity of 8,680 MW by 2026-27 and 47,244 MW by 2031-32. To ensure the safe evacuation of renewable energy, the government has prioritised the establishment of energy storage facilities to optimise the use of transmission infrastructure.
BESS helps relieve transmission congestion by absorbing excess power during periods of high generation – particularly from renewable energy sources – and releasing it during peak demand. With renewables creating variability and intermittency, BESS provides rapid-response flexibility to maintain grid balance.
Other mega green energy evacuation projects under planning
Apart from the various ongoing intra-state projects, an important project sanctioned in 2024 under GEC-II was the establishment of an interstate transmission system (ISTS) to support a 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh. Being implemented by POWERGRID, the project entails the construction of 713 km of transmission lines, covering 1,268 ckt km and the installation of two 5 GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) terminals in Ladakh (Pang) and Kaithal (Haryana). The infrastructure will facilitate the transmission of electricity generated from the 13 GW renewable energy project, along with a 12 GWh BESS, in Ladakh. The cost of Phase II projects is about Rs 207.73 billion, and the central financial assistance will cover 40 per cent of the project cost, amounting to Rs 83.09 billion. POWERGRID will finance the remaining project costs through debt and equity. The project is scheduled for completion by 2029-30.
Meanwhile, projects for power evacuation from bulk consumers such as green hydrogen and ammonia plants of about 20 GW and others of about 18 GW are in the works. As per the Interim ISTS Rolling Plan 2029-30 by Central Transmission Utility of India Limited, almost 19,500 MW of ISTS schemes for various green hydrogen and ammonia plants are planned by FY 2030. Of these, five ISTS schemes, costing Rs 156.29 billion, will support green hydrogen projects in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Gujarat will benefit the most with 13,500 MW, while Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will receive 3,000 MW each. Three ISTS schemes (8,200 MW) for Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been approved under tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB).
In addition, mega transmission schemes are being planned for offshore wind transmission projects. Around 10 GW of offshore wind energy evacuation has been envisaged – 5 GW in Gujarat and 5 GW in Tamil Nadu.
FACTS and REMCs
The implementation of flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices, such as static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) and static var compensators, is enhancing grid stability and voltage regulation. STATCOMs were considered for the first time in India with multivendor inverter-based resources at renewable energy pooling stations in the Rajasthan renewable energy complex. The presence of STATCOMs, at strategic locations with unique control features near solar power parks, improves power quality and facilitates the smooth integration of renewable energy sources into the existing power infrastructure.
Furthermore, renewable energy management centres (REMCs) established across India are strengthening real-time monitoring, forecasting and grid operations. Set up at both state and national levels and co-located with load despatch centres, these REMCs forecast solar and wind generation, manage imbalances and support power scheduling from renewable plants. By providing real-time situational awareness, they enable grid operators to make faster, more informed decisions, thereby improving the reliability of renewable energy integration.
Challenges and the way forward
While the shift towards clean energy continues to accelerate, several challenges persist. The cost of HVDC lines has increased nearly fourfold, raising concerns about the financial viability of expanding transmission networks and making affordability a critical issue. Although interstate transmission infrastructure has seen substantial progress, intra-state networks still lag behind.
Over 50 GW of renewable energy capacity remains stranded across the country, leading to higher per-unit transmission costs, weakening project viability, and discouraging private investment. These constraints slow the addition of new capacity and hinder India’s ability to integrate variable renewable energy at scale, increasing the risk of missing critical milestones in the nation’s clean energy transition.
Building resilience against extreme weather events, particularly in cyclone-prone coastal regions and hilly terrains, has also become a key priority. Strengthening concession agreements with well-defined responsibilities and increasing cybersecurity frameworks are essential to secure the power sector. Further, the adoption of advanced technologies will be central to driving this transformation forward.
Over the 10-year period from 2022-23 to 2031-32, the NEP aims to add more than 191,000 ckt km of transmission lines and 1,270 GVA of transformation capacity at 220 kV and above. It also includes the addition of 33 GW of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) bi-pole links and plans to increase interregional transmission capacity from the current 119 GW to 143 GW by 2027 and 168 GW by 2032. The initiative presents a significant investment opportunity, estimating over Rs 9.15 trillion in the transmission sector by 2032.
Conclusion
The shift to clean energy demands extensive expansion and reinforcement of India’s power transmission network. As the nation advances toward a sustainable energy future, the transmission system will act as the backbone of this transition, supporting continuous and reliable growth. Through optimisation of the existing grid and coordinated planning efforts, India is well-positioned to realise its ambitious clean energy goals.
