India's power ministry has rejected grid connectivity for 6.3 GW of clean energy projects since 2022 due to delays and infrastructure lags. This action prioritizes viable projects, addressing transmission bottlenecks that strand over 50 GW of renewables and threaten the 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030.
India's Ministry of Power has nixed connectivity approvals for 6.3 GW of renewable energy capacity since 2022, signaling a crackdown on delayed projects amid surging demand and grid constraints. The Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL) revoked these permissions to favor operational or near-complete initiatives, particularly in renewable hotspots like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. This follows broader challenges, with over 50 GW of clean energy stranded as of mid-2025 due to lagging transmission infrastructure—a 42% shortfall in planned lines.
The move aligns with revised regulations prohibiting grid access trading and mandating developer control until commissioning. Recent CERC guidelines emphasize Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for connectivity, targeting 31.8 GW of tentative approvals without firm offtake. Despite adding 31.2 GW non-fossil capacity in FY25-26 so far, network gaps risk curtailment and higher costs, underscoring the need for unified planning and energy storage.
Key Highlights
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6.3 GW clean energy connectivity rejected since 2022 by power ministry.
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Over 50 GW renewables stranded due to transmission delays as of June 2025.
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Revocations hit projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh.
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New rules tie connectivity to PPAs and ban access trading.
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Aims to accelerate 500 GW non-fossil goal by prioritizing viable capacity.
Sources: Reuters, PV Tech, Mercom India, IEEFA Report