Innovative granular and enduring systems seek to stabilise the power grid and assist in planning as renewable energy capacity expands

India is revamping its weather forecasting systems to aid the nation’s swiftly growing renewable energy industry, implementing location-specific forecasts and extended trend assessments to enhance grid stability and planning, as per media reports. The transition signifies a change from wide-ranging models to detailed predictions tailored to align with the 15-minute operational intervals of the national power grid.

Solar and wind energy, which are very responsive to abrupt weather fluctuations, are anticipated to gain from this accuracy, enhancing dependability and decreasing curtailment. In addition to short-term predictions, governmental bodies are investing in long-term instruments that offer multi-year climate patterns, a feature that is still uncommon worldwide. These forecasts aim to direct infrastructure growth and resource distribution as renewable capacity increases.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has shifted from a five-year to an annual planning cycle, enabling quicker incorporation of new forecasts and developing technologies. The adjustment comes after the installation of a historic 22 gigawatts of solar and wind energy in the first half of 2025, bringing India nearer to its goal of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.

To ensure grid stability, solar generation is being reduced during periods of low demand, while coal production is being modified to support varying renewable energy supply. These actions, along with sophisticated forecasting, are anticipated to be vital as the integration of renewables grows.