Strong grid, transmission infrastructure vital for India's expanding power capacities

India's power demand and capacity are expected to surge over the next two decades, but developing strong grid and transmission infrastructure is a prerequisite for the smooth integration of renewable energy, according to industry observers.

Power demand in the country is projected to reach 708 GW by 2047, necessitating the development of up to 2,100 GW in capacity to meet this requirement, Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal said earlier this week at an industry gathering.

"We have set an ambitious target of 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, effectively doubling our current capacity," he said.

The Central Electricity Authority launched its National Electricity Plan in October this year, stating that the transmission infrastructure is required to support 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with that figure increasing to over 600 GW by 2032.

The plan outlined the integration of 10 GW of offshore wind farms, 47 GW of battery energy storage systems and 30 GW of pumped storage plants, along with meeting the power needs of green hydrogen and green ammonia manufacturing hubs.

The plan outlined the addition of 190,000 circuit kilometers of transmission lines over the next decade.

CEA Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad said that India is targeting a capacity of 2,053 GW by 2047, with about 1,200 GW of solar energy and over 400 GW of wind power.

Hydro pump storage plants are also expected to surge to 116 GW by 2047 from the current 4.7 GW, he said.

The increased use of solar and wind energy requires action to modernize grids and expand power system flexibility, including through the development of multiple forms of energy storage, the International Energy Agency said in its latest report.

India's current capacity is in excess of 450 GW currently, and renewable energy accounts for almost 46% of the energy mix. However, during non-solar hours, thermal coal continues to play a significant role in power generation.

"Coal is set to retain a strong position in the energy mix in India over the next decades," IEA said in its report. The Indian government plans to add about 80 GW of new coal-fired power plants by 2032 as demand for power is expected to increase.

"Between 2014 and 2024, solar capacity grew multifold and is increasingly catering to daytime electricity demand. However, during non-solar hours, the supply of green electricity drops significantly and thermal resources continue to fill the gap," London-based think tank Ember said in a report.

Industry observers also emphasized the need to develop strong grid and transmission infrastructure to facilitate cross-border power trading, particularly with India's neighboring countries.

While Nepal currently imports and exports power with India, it also plans to export power to Bangladesh, with India playing a crucial role in supporting this initiative, Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Kulman Ghising said.

Industry observers also noted the need for a strong grid infrastructure across Asia, enabling power to be exported or imported at any given time based on the needs of individual countries.

Without efficient storage and grid systems, managing the transition will be challenging, Prasad of CEA said.