India Curtails More Solar Power As Grid Faces Daytime Oversupply
Curtailment of solar output reaches record levels in October, revealing grid inflexibility and the urgent need for large-scale energy storage
India’s power grid is increasingly struggling to absorb the country’s surging solar generation, with new data showing a sharp rise in curtailment, a situation that threatens to slow the pace of renewable energy expansion.
According to the Grid Controller of India, the curtailment rate for solar power climbed to about 12 per cent in October, the highest since records began in May. On certain days, as much as 40 per cent of potential solar generation could not be dispatched to the national grid, highlighting a widening imbalance between daytime supply and demand.
The oversupply occurs when solar generation peaks during daylight hours, while demand remains moderate. Coal-fired plants, which provide the bulk of India’s baseload power, cannot reduce output rapidly enough to accommodate the influx of solar electricity. These plants must also stay operational to meet evening demand once solar output fades.
The data also revealed rare instances of wind power curtailment, underlining the operational challenge of integrating variable renewable sources into a grid still heavily dependent on coal. Experts say that large-scale energy storage including grid batteries and pumped hydro systems — is crucial to ensure that surplus electricity generated during the day can be stored and supplied after sunset.
At present, nearly 44 gigawatts of renewable projects are struggling to secure long-term power purchase agreements with state utilities. The central government is reportedly considering cancelling projects that show little prospect of offtake, a move that could endanger the national target of doubling clean energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030.
While India continues to lead globally in renewable energy additions, the latest data expose a structural gap between generation potential and grid readiness one that must be bridged if the country’s clean energy ambitions are to stay on course.
