+
India Wasted 11 Per Cent Of Solar Power During Record Summer
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

India Wasted 11 Per Cent Of Solar Power During Record Summer

India wasted 11 per cent of its solar power output during a period of record summer demand, according to reported operational data. The curtailment represented a significant loss of clean generation at a time of heightened demand across regions. The pattern drew attention to mismatches between solar output and grid management practices.

Operational managers pointed to transmission congestion and limited energy storage as primary causes of the curtailment. Constraints in scheduling and variability in regional demand flows reduced the ability to absorb excess solar generation when supply peaked. System operators adjusted output from other sources to balance the grid, which limited the utilisation of available renewable energy.

The lost solar generation increased reliance on dispatchable fossil fuel plants, with attendant economic and environmental implications. Displaced renewable output represented foregone fuel savings and curtailed reductions in emissions during the high demand period. The episode highlighted inefficiencies in realising the full value of existing solar capacity.

The event underlined the importance of accelerating investments in transmission infrastructure and utility scale energy storage to enhance flexibility. Improved market mechanisms and intra day scheduling can better align supply and demand, reducing the need to curtail renewable output. Enhanced forecasting and operational coordination across regions also strengthened grid response.

India's solar capacity has expanded rapidly over recent years and efficient integration remains critical to meeting climate and energy goals. Policymakers and industry actors will need to prioritise complementary measures that increase system flexibility and market responsiveness. Continued monitoring of curtailment levels will inform targeted interventions to reduce future wastage.

Greater coordination between national and regional grid operators will help unlock constrained solar output and improve system resilience. Deployment of demand side management and time of day tariffs can shift consumption to periods of high solar availability. Transparent reporting of curtailment metrics will guide policy and investment decisions.

India wasted 11 per cent of its solar power output during a period of record summer demand, according to reported operational data. The curtailment represented a significant loss of clean generation at a time of heightened demand across regions. The pattern drew attention to mismatches between solar output and grid management practices. Operational managers pointed to transmission congestion and limited energy storage as primary causes of the curtailment. Constraints in scheduling and variability in regional demand flows reduced the ability to absorb excess solar generation when supply peaked. System operators adjusted output from other sources to balance the grid, which limited the utilisation of available renewable energy. The lost solar generation increased reliance on dispatchable fossil fuel plants, with attendant economic and environmental implications. Displaced renewable output represented foregone fuel savings and curtailed reductions in emissions during the high demand period. The episode highlighted inefficiencies in realising the full value of existing solar capacity. The event underlined the importance of accelerating investments in transmission infrastructure and utility scale energy storage to enhance flexibility. Improved market mechanisms and intra day scheduling can better align supply and demand, reducing the need to curtail renewable output. Enhanced forecasting and operational coordination across regions also strengthened grid response. India's solar capacity has expanded rapidly over recent years and efficient integration remains critical to meeting climate and energy goals. Policymakers and industry actors will need to prioritise complementary measures that increase system flexibility and market responsiveness. Continued monitoring of curtailment levels will inform targeted interventions to reduce future wastage. Greater coordination between national and regional grid operators will help unlock constrained solar output and improve system resilience. Deployment of demand side management and time of day tariffs can shift consumption to periods of high solar availability. Transparent reporting of curtailment metrics will guide policy and investment decisions.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Real Estate

BMC OC Amnesty Scheme Requires Key Approvals from Mumbai Societies

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has clarified that housing societies applying under its Occupation Certificate (OC) amnesty scheme must possess key approvals linked to the original construction. The requirements include a valid Intimation of Disapproval (IOD), an approved building plan and a Commencement Certificate (CC), along with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer or original construction applicant. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) makes clear that the absence of an OC alone will not qualify a building for relief. Societies must establish that their build..

Next Story
Real Estate

Gurugram Emerges as Luxury Senior Living Hub

Gurugram is emerging as a potential hub for luxury senior living, supported by available land, healthcare infrastructure, connectivity and a concentration of affluent professionals, high-net-worth individuals and non-resident Indians. These factors could give the city an advantage over land-constrained metros such as Mumbai. A report by the Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) and JLL estimates that India’s organised senior living market could represent a $10.1 bn opportunity by 2030. The sector had about 25,050 organised units as of June 2026, while penetration stood at only 1.5 per ce..

Next Story
Real Estate

Corrosion Costs India’s Infrastructure Rs. 142 bn Annually

Corrosion costs India an estimated Rs. 1.42 tn annually, equivalent to 4.3 per cent of gross domestic product, according to a report by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the National Research Institute. Infrastructure accounts for Rs. 142 bn of the annual burden, making it the sector with the largest absolute cost among those examined. The report, presented at the CII Annual Infrastructure Summit 2026, said the infrastructure-sector cost equals about 2.9 per cent of the sector’s gross domestic product. It estimated that effective measures could generate maximum savings of Rs. 495.8 bn..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code