The renewable energy sector is moving beyond capacity addition towards effective grid integration and management. In this article, Rajesh Kulhari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, highlights the importance of transmission infrastructure, energy storage, artificial intelligence (AI)-based forecasting, smart grids and domestic manufacturing in ensuring the reliable utilisation of renewable energy. He also outlines key initiatives in the sector, including green energy corridors (GECs), rooftop solar, solar pumps and the National Green Hydrogen Mission, while emphasising the need for greater investment and technological innovation to meet India’s clean energy goals. Further, he highlights the importance of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 as a platform for bringing together policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders to accelerate the country’s renewable energy transition…
As India proceeds with a resolve to achieve the renewable energy generation target it has set for 2030, a key challenge is to create the wherewithal to consume that power with minimal loss or wastage. This is particularly important given the variability of solar and wind energy production over a 24-hour period. The sources of supply are also geographically concentrated, with some regions being more conducive to solar and wind generation than others. Reducing intermittency and ensuring reliability are the hurdles that have to be crossed if the proposed renewable generation capacity of 500 GW by 2030 is to be efficiently utilised.
India’s renewable energy transition has entered a new phase. In August 2026, non-fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity crossed the 300 GW mark. This is proof that the policy framework works. The share of renewable energy in the country’s total power production capacity is now more than half. Since 2013-14, there has been a fourfold increase in installed renewable capacity. The next challenge is fundamentally different: not how fast we can add capacity, but how well we can manage it. This requires investment in transmission lines and energy storage. Further, the focus must shift to forecasting, scheduling and green energy grid management.
Beyond physical infrastructure, mastering this transition demands deep technological integration. Leveraging AI-driven predictive forecasting, smart grids and alternative storage solutions will be non-negotiable for handling massive power swings. Furthermore, securing critical mineral supply chains through domestic manufacturing initiatives and production-linked incentive schemes will ensure that India’s green momentum remains resilient against external vulnerabilities.
The three phases of the GEC programme aim to achieve just that. The centre approved the third phase at the end of September 2026, entailing an investment of Rs 1.86 trillion. The bulk of it will be spent on a set of transmission lines within the participating states to connect their large-scale solar and wind energy farms with the national grid and enable the transfer of 135 GW of renewable energy to consumers. It will also create 50 GWh of battery storage capacity at a cost of half a trillion rupees. The batteries will act as a sink during high renewable generation periods and discharge power when demand rises but generation is low. The centre will fund a third of the investment in transmission lines in order to keep wheeling charges and renewable power costs low.
The two earlier phases of GEC will be completed by March 2027 and 2028 respectively. The transmission lines under Phase III will decentralise renewable capacity that has so far been concentrated in five states. At the end of August 2026, these states accounted for 75 per cent of the total solar power capacity of 168 GW, with Rajasthan’s share at 26 per cent. Rajasthan’s integrated clean energy potential represents both a massive integration challenge and a profound opportunity. With easy land rights, the state will serve as the bedrock of this transition as the focus shifts from mere gigawatt accumulation to clean energy efficiency and grid resilience.
This trend is also visible in the wind energy sector. The top five states account for nearly 84 per cent of the capacity, with Gujarat’s share at 28.5 per cent. Other states also have potential that needs to be actualised. About 13 states have expressed interest and submitted proposals for transmission lines to transfer renewable energy. This will expand the footprint of the green energy corridor, with GEC-I being implemented in eight states and GEC-II in seven.
A hallmark of this transition is turning renewable energy production and usage into a people’s movement. One initiative encourages households to install rooftop solar panels through subsidised installations. They are paid for the surplus power (after own use) supplied to the grid. There are 5 million such installations across the country, benefiting 6 million households. The number will only increase as the window for applications to avail the subsidy is open until the end of March next year.
Another initiative encourages farmers to opt for solar water pumps instead of those running on diesel or electricity. Grid-connected solar pumps have achieved a fifth (about 2,200 MW) of the targeted capacity. Meanwhile, 1.2 million off-grid solar pumps have been installed. A third initiative, launched recently, aims to deploy floating solar panels on waterbodies with a generation capacity of 5,000 MW, supported by 10,000 MWh of battery storage capacity.
However, hard-to-abate sectors such as fertilisers, oil refining, steel production and shipping cannot be decarbonised through renewable electricity alone. They need hydrogen for that, produced from the electrolysis of water with electricity generated not from fossil fuels (brown or grey hydrogen) but from renewables (green hydrogen). The National Green Hydrogen Mission is quite ambitious, targeting the production of 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, supported by 125 GW of renewable energy capacity. The overarching objective is to make India a global hub for the production, consumption and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. By pairing utility-scale renewable electricity generation with green hydrogen hubs, decentralised projects and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, India can create a clean energy industrial and economic ecosystem.
We need investment, technologies and practical pathways to shrink the carbon footprint of our economic growth. As per a NITI Aayog study on achieving net zero, a total investment of $22.7 trillion will be required by 2070 to achieve carbon neutrality, with the power sector accounting for over half of it.
The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026, scheduled to be held in Delhi in November 2026, will bring together national and international participants. It will be the culmination of roadshows in six cities, beginning with Jaipur in August 2026. At these events, investors, technologists and government officials discussed the opportunities in renewables and the challenges of project execution, energy storage, domestic manufacturing, access to finance and regulatory compliance. The summit will be held alongside the 9th session of the International Solar Alliance Assembly and the 4th International Conference on Green Hydrogen, reinforcing India’s leadership role in guiding the Global South towards sustainable energy futures. The theme is apt: “Invest. Innovate. Inspire”.
