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yesterday

India Hits 50% Non‑Fossil Capacity as Grid Constraints Force Solar Curtailment

Limited transmission plus scarce storage keep coal the primary power source.

Wind and solar create steady power only when conditions are right
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Already teh world's second-largest consumer of coal, India bumped up production by five percent last year
A plume of smoke rises as a worker operates a bulldozer to convey heaps of raw coal on the outskirts of Dhanbad, in India's Jharkhand state

Overview

  • India’s renewable energy ministry said solar generation is being reduced at times to relieve grid congestion caused by delayed transmission upgrades.
  • Non‑fossil sources now account for half of installed capacity after a rapid build‑out, yet coal still supplies more than 74% of electricity generation.
  • National storage capacity stands at about 505 MWh, a shortfall that risks wasting renewable output and triggers reliance on coal when solar and wind dip.
  • Developers added a record 22 GW of renewables in the first half of 2025, including 18.4 GW of new solar, according to Rystad Energy.
  • IRENA reports India has overtaken Japan as the third‑largest solar power producer, with installed solar around 119 GW in July, as industry groups press for faster transmission and battery projects.