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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3511
ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026
STRENGTHENING TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INTEGRATION OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY
3511 SHRI S.R. SIVALINGAM:
Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has taken note that the clean energy transition priority is shifting from
merely expanding renewable capacity to enhancing grid readiness and energy storage capabilities
nationwide to ensure stable integration of variable solar and wind power;
(b) if so, the details of measures taken by Government to strengthen transmission infrastructure,
deploy smart grid technologies and expand storage solutions including battery and other large‑scale
systems; and
(c) steps proposed by Government to address supply intermittency, enhance round‑the‑clock
clean power delivery and support renewable targets through accelerated grid modernisation and
storage deployment?
A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
(a) to (c) : The Government has adopted planning and implementation approach that prioritises
grid readiness, transmission expansion and energy storage deployment as integral components of
development of Renewable Energy (RE) sources in the country. The steps required for integration
of RE into the grid, while expanding the renewable capacity, have been undertaken to achieve the
goal of energy security along with energy transition. To support this, several measures have been
initiated, including strengthening the transmission infrastructure and grid operation, deploying smart
grid technologies, and expanding energy storage systems to address supply intermittency and enable
round-the-clock power delivery. These measures are outlined below:
(i) Strengthening of transmission infrastructure and grid operation:
a) Development of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) and Intra-State Transmission
Systems (InSTS) for evacuation of renewable energy. Transmission system has been
planned for integration of over 500 GW RE capacity by the year 2030.
b) As per the National Electricity Plan (Volume-II Transmission), the transmission network
is planned to expand from about 5.04 lakh circuit km (as on February 2026) to 6.48 lakh
circuit km by 2032, and transformation capacity from about 1429 GVA to 2345 GVA.
Inter-regional transmission capacity is also planned to increase from 120 GW (as on
February 2026) to 143 GW by 2027 and further to 168 GW by 2032.
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c) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing Green Energy
Corridor (GEC) as Intra-State Transmission projects scheme in ten States namely
Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala,
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu in two phases, i.e. GEC-I and GEC-
II for evacuation of 44 GW of RE.
d) Dedicated High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission links with bi-directional
power flow capability are envisaged to enable efficient long-distance bulk transfer of
renewable power and improve grid controllability.
e) Central Electricity Regulatory Commission through the Connectivity and General
Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System (Third Amendment)
Regulations, 2025 has introduced solar-hour and non-solar-hour connectivity, enabling
optimal use of transmission infrastructure and promoting hybrid renewable projects
combining solar, wind and BESS.
f) Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid)
Regulations have been notified to prescribe the minimum technical requirements for the
RE generating plants to ensure the safe, secure and reliable operation of the grid.
g) Flexibilization of thermal generation is mandated to address the variability of RE
generation.
h) Government has set up thirteen Renewable Energy Management Centres (REMCs) for
better forecasting and real time monitoring of RE generation. The National Centre for
Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), in coordination with the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO), provides advanced meteorological inputs to system
operators and other stakeholders, which are utilized for renewable generation and
demand forecasting, thereby supporting effective management of variability in RE
generation.
i) Hybrid RE power plants, Energy Storage Systems such as BESS (Battery Energy Storage
System) and PSP (Pump Storage Project) are being promoted for mitigating variability
in RE generation and provide adequate frequency support to the grid.
(ii) Deployment of Smart Grid Technologies:
a) Advanced grid support technologies such as Static Synchronous Compensators
(STATCOMS), Synchronous Condensers (SynCONs) and other Flexible AC Transmission
System (FACTS) devices are planned to enhance voltage stability, improve system strength,
and support reliable integration of renewable energy.
b) Automatic Generation Control (AGC) and Ancillary Services (SRAS/TRAS) have been
implemented for frequency regulation and balancing.
c) Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition (SCADA) works have been sanctioned for distribution system covering 455
towns.
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(iii) Development of Energy Storage Systems (ESS):
a) ESS, as part of the power system, is defined under clause (50) of Section 2 of the
Electricity Act, 2003.
b) Implementation of two Viability Gap Funding (VGF) schemes for the development of
approximately 43.8 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems.
c) For incentivizing the ESS, 100% waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)
charges has been extended for co-located BESS projects commissioned till June, 2028
and hydro Pumped Storage Plants (PSPs) where construction work is awarded up to June,
2028.
d) Ministry of Power has issued Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) Guidelines for
procurement of storage capacity and stored energy from Hydro PSP, Battery Energy
Storage Systems and Firm and Dispatchable RE (FDRE) to facilitate standardized and
transparent bidding process.
e) Ministry of Heavy Industries is implementing a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI)
Scheme with an outlay of ₹18,100 crore for establishing 50 GWh of Advanced Chemistry
Cell manufacturing capacity, of which 10 GWh is earmarked for grid-scale storage.
f) Off-stream closed-loop pumped storage schemes, irrespective of the quantum of capital
expenditure have been exempted from the requirement of concurrence by the CEA.
g) CEA in November, 2025, has issued revised guidelines for formulation of Detailed
Project Reports for Pumped Storage Schemes wherein it has been stipulated that
Clearance of Inter-state Aspects is not required for PSPs.
h) Government is providing budgetary support for the cost of enabling infrastructure (roads;
transmission line from power house to the nearest pooling point, including upgradation
of pooling substations of State or Central Transmission Utility; railway siding; ropeway;
communication infrastructure) for development of Hydro PSP.
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