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Answer

Introduction

India’s rapid expansion of renewable energy, with over 45 GW added in 2025, has led to cost parity with conventional power sources (~₹3.5/kWh). However, more than 50 GW of clean energy capacity remains stranded due to slow transmission expansion, land acquisition issues, and under-utilisation of existing grid infrastructure.

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Stranded Capacity

• Definition: Stranded capacity refers to renewable projects that cannot deliver electricity to the grid despite being ready for operation.
• Causes: Transmission lines take 3–5 years to build, whereas projects can be commissioned in 12–18 months; Grid constraints, multi-agency approvals, and lack of storage infrastructure reduce utilisation; Existing lines and substations are often underused; solar lines operate only 25% of the time; 
• Effect : Recent national load data reveals that during peak midday solar generation, the country’s coal fleet is forced to swing down sharply. However, thermal plants cannot safely drop below their 55% minimum technical load without risking structural damage.

Smart Grid Optimisation Techniques (without heavy land acquisition)

• Battery storage at key nodes: Stores daytime solar power for evening peaks, increasing utilisation 2–3x.
• Use of coal corridors: Transmission lines of underused coal plants can carry renewable power when plants operate below capacity (~100 GW potential).
• Substation optimisation: Connecting new RE projects to existing substations and pairing with storage (~100 GW additional capacity).
• Advanced conductors: High-temperature, low-sag wires can nearly double transmission on existing towers.

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Conclusion

Addressing stranded capacity requires optimising existing grid infrastructure with storage, reconductoring, and strategic utilisation of underused lines. These measures can unlock ~1,000 GW of renewable energy without new land acquisition, ensuring faster integration of India’s low-cost clean energy into the national grid.

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