Bengaluru, Sep 8 (PTI) India can install renewable energy generation capacity within 18 to 24 months, but transmission infrastructure takes three to five years, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said on Tuesday.
The mismatch makes grid integration, energy storage and timely expansion of transmission capacity key challenges for the country’s clean-energy transition, he said.
“Generation capacity, of course, is not a constraint because today the generation capacity can be installed within 18 months to 24 months. But now integration is a big challenge,” Sarangi said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a roadshow here ahead of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo-2026, Sarangi said addressing the intermittency of renewable power through battery energy storage, strengthening transmission infrastructure and deploying artificial intelligence and digital technologies for grid management would be critical.
The summit will be held from November 2 to 5 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with “Invest, Inspire and Innovate” as its tagline.
Sarangi said India would require about 239 GWh of battery energy storage by 2031. Referring to the proposed 10 per cent storage mandate for future solar and wind projects, he said battery storage would help supply power during peak demand periods.
Meeting these storage and infrastructure requirements would also require significant investment, he said.
On financing the next phase of renewable energy expansion, Sarangi said India would need a combination of international and domestic capital.
“It will have to be a mix of all,” he said, referring to pension funds, multilateral development institutions such as the World Bank, IFC and ADB, and private equity investors.
He said about Rs 18 lakh crore had so far been invested in the renewable energy sector through banks, financial institutions, FDI and private equity.
Sarangi said financing was not India’s biggest clean-energy challenge, citing strong international interest in green-energy projects, as well as the country’s policy certainty and manufacturing capacity.
Sarangi said Karnataka was an important renewable energy hub, with nearly 70 per cent of its installed capacity coming from renewable sources and significant manufacturing capacity being developed in solar modules, cells, batteries and wind turbines.
Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta said the state had been a responsible participant in the country’s renewable energy transition and would continue to expand its capacity.
“Karnataka has always been a responsible player at the national level in whatever debates, discussions and progress have taken place,” Gupta told reporters.
He said more than 66 per cent of Karnataka’s installed capacity came from renewable sources and that the state would add 27 GW of capacity, including 23 GW from renewable sources.
“So, we are fully committed to renewable energy growth. Karnataka is one of the drivers of the national economy, and we will definitely be absolutely in the forefront, along with other major states, to ensure that not only Karnataka, but the entire country, grows faster in terms of renewable energy,” he said.
On the role of private investment in expanding transmission infrastructure, Gupta said the Adani Group was among several players in the sector and the state government was working with district administrations to facilitate land and right-of-way requirements.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that they can establish their projects without any delays, without any kind of cost overruns or time overruns,” Gupta said.
He said the Centre had awarded several transmission projects through the Central Transmission Utility, including a major 765-kV line connecting Bijapur to Pune to facilitate the flow of renewable energy into the national grid.
On industry concerns over delays in land acquisition and grid connectivity, Gupta said the government was continuously engaging with private players.
“Whatever their concerns are, whatever feedback they have, we will definitely look at resolving their problems,” he said.
Gupta assured renewable energy investors that Karnataka had not witnessed curtailment of renewable power.
“Karnataka has not seen any kind of curtailment, and we will continue to ensure that our transmission capacity keeps growing,” he said.
He added that Karnataka’s DISCOMs had been prompt in making payments to renewable energy generators, with “no default on that count.” PTI GMS SSK
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