Nearly 4.3 GW of solar power capacity in Rajasthan is facing complete daytime curtailment due to inadequate transmission infrastructure, putting projects worth around Rs 200 billion at risk, according to industry sources.

A total of 26 solar projects, developed by companies including Adani, ReNew, Serentica, Juniper, Zelestra, ACME and Amp Energy, are currently operating under the Temporary General Network Access framework as their associated transmission systems are yet to be commissioned. With available transmission margins fully exhausted, power generation from these plants has been entirely curtailed during daytime hours.

Data from the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre shows that Rajasthan has about 23 GW of commissioned renewable energy capacity, while its transmission capacity stands at roughly 18.9 GW. This entire transmission capacity has been allocated to projects with long-term General Network Access, leaving more than 4 GW of capacity operating under T-GNA without adequate evacuation capability.

Industry officials said that despite the commissioning of the 765 kV Khetri–Narela transmission line, only around 600 MW of additional transmission capacity became available. At the same time, more than 4.3 GW of capacity was operationalised under long-term GNA, effectively absorbing all surplus margins.

In an email dated 11 December, the NRLDC withdrew the No Objection Certificates for the 26 projects following the commissioning of the Khetri–Narela line and the operationalisation of long-term GNA. Developers warned that prolonged curtailment could severely impact project viability and debt servicing, flagging the issue as a growing systemic risk as renewable generation continues to outpace transmission additions in resource-rich states such as Rajasthan.

Industry representatives have urged the government to consider short-term relief measures, including the implementation of a Special Protection Scheme to improve evacuation under T-GNA, dynamic reallocation of unused GNA margins during low utilisation periods, and the use of Dynamic Line Rating to maximise real-time transmission capacity.

An industry official said most of the 4.3 GW capacity is well within its notified connectivity start date but is being forced to operate under T-GNA due to delays in commissioning associated transmission systems. He added that there is currently no formal mechanism for generators to assess in advance the transmission capacity that may become available with the commissioning of new lines.

According to industry estimates, if Rajasthan’s 18.9 GW transmission capacity were equitably distributed across its 23 GW of operational renewable capacity, peak-hour curtailment would be limited to around 15 per cent, which would be manageable on an annualised basis. Without immediate intervention, however, developers warned that large-scale renewable assets risk becoming stranded.