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					</table>India’s transmission infrastructure comprised approximately 509,603 circuit kilometers (ckm) of transmission lines and 1,478 gigavolt-amperes (GVA) of transformation capacity as of June 2026, according to Mercom India Research’s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/state-transmission-infrastructure-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of Transmission Infrastructure in India</a> report.
<a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-scaled.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-107262 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-scaled.png" alt="Transformation Capacity Annual Progress " width="2560" height="1020" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-scaled.png 2560w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-300x120.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-2000x797.png 2000w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-768x306.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-1536x612.png 1536w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-2048x816.png 2048w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-650x259.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-624x249.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-600x239.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a>
Transmission line length increased by 50.8% between April 2016 and June 2026, while transformation capacity rose 111.7%. Despite this expansion, infrastructure remains unevenly distributed, particularly in regions with high renewable energy penetration.
The Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) transmission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-eyes-137500-ckm-grid-expansion-to-support-900-gw-renewables-by-fy-2036" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planning</a> for the financial year (FY) 2036 covers infrastructure for approximately 16% more capacity than projected renewable capacity under the base case. However, almost 45% of the FY36 planning envelope remains planned or under planning.
<a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Trnamission-Report-2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-106549 size-full aligncenter" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Trnamission-Report-2.png" alt="Transmission Report 2" width="377" height="591" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Trnamission-Report-2.png 377w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Trnamission-Report-2-191x300.png 191w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px" /></a>
Naveen Munjal, Director, Business Development and Commercial at <a href="https://www.apraava.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apraava Energy</a>, pointed out that approximately 6,900 GWh of renewable electricity was affected by evacuation constraints in financial year 2025-26 because of delays in transmission availability.
“Around 21 GW of renewable capacity was operating through temporary grid arrangements due to lack of dedicated transmission infrastructure. Another 12 GW faced evacuation restrictions during peak solar generation.”
Shalin Sheth, Founder and Managing Director of <a href="https://www.advaitgroup.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Advait Energy Transitions</a>, noted the fundamental issue is that renewable projects can be developed faster than large transmission systems, making advance infrastructure planning essential.
According to Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL) figures cited by Sheth, Rajasthan has about 179 GW of renewable energy potential, with 163 GW concentrated across Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Bikaner districts.
As of July 31, 2025, the state had received General Network Access (GNA) applications for approximately 130 GW, including nearly 117 GW from these four districts. Transmission systems for 73 GW of connectivity were at various stages of implementation.
This geographic concentration makes it particularly challenging to develop sufficient evacuation infrastructure to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ctuil-flags-grid-connectivity-challenges-for-60-gw-renewables-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transfer</a> electricity to other states and major demand centers.
Agreeing, Bondada Raghavendra Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of <a href="https://www.bondada.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bondada Group</a>, said Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh also require transmission upgrades aligned with planned renewable energy capacity additions.
The Infrastructure Gap
Mercom&#8217;s State-wise Transmission Readiness Index highlights significant differences in transmission readiness across states. Only two states fall in the leading category, while Mizoram and four others are classified as high-risk. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and several other states face very high conditional curtailment exposure if critical transmission infrastructure and grid-strengthening projects are delayed.
Developers face multiple constraints, including inadequate substation capacity, unavailable evacuation bays, delays in transmission line construction, connectivity approvals, and right-of-way (ROW) clearances.
Rao said generation projects, substations, evacuation bays, and upstream transmission often follow different commissioning schedules. Even a completed solar project cannot inject electricity into the grid if the associated evacuation infrastructure is unavailable.
The problem becomes more complex in renewable energy parks, where several projects depend on shared substations and transmission networks. A delay in one critical component can restrict generation from several projects.
Rao emphasized the need for corridor-level planning, with developers, transmission utilities, and equipment suppliers coordinating construction, approvals, testing, and commissioning schedules.
Sheth identified ROW clearances as another major obstacle. Transmission lines often cross multiple land parcels and administrative jurisdictions, requiring approvals from several authorities.
An unresolved land or approval issue affecting even a small section of a transmission corridor can delay commissioning of the entire line.
&#8220;Planning should therefore work backward from the date when power has to start flowing, with visibility on every critical element between the generation asset and the grid,&#8221; Sheth reasoned.
Munjal added that developers need greater certainty over connectivity and GNA timelines, including the availability of pooling substations, transformation capacity, and downstream network strengthening.
Impact on Project Economics and Generation
Transmission delays can leave developers with completed generation assets that cannot operate at their intended capacity, even as financing and other fixed costs continue to accrue.
Munjal said the delays can increase interest during construction, financing expenses, land lease costs, and expenditure on dedicated transmission infrastructure.
They can also disrupt equipment procurement and delivery schedules. Equipment delivered before commissioning may require storage and preservation, while prolonged delays can expose developers to changes in equipment prices, import duties, freight costs, foreign exchange rates, and supply-chain conditions.
Rao said evacuation delays can postpone synchronization and commercial operations even after developers install solar modules, inverters, and other balance-of-system components.
The financial impact depends on contractual provisions, connectivity arrangements, and whether partial evacuation is possible.
Sheth said developers must increasingly consider transmission availability alongside solar and wind resource potential when selecting project locations. Even sites with favorable renewable energy resources may become commercially unattractive if evacuation requires substantial additional investment or faces prolonged delays.
Transmission constraints can also curtail renewable energy, reducing the electricity operational projects can deliver to the grid.
Sheth cited the example of a 2023 transmission strengthening program <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/transmission-system-delay-stalls-evacuation-of-8-1-gw-renewables-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">associated</a> with evacuating 8.1 GW of renewable energy from Rajasthan, for which Grid India&#8217;s operational feedback had identified delays exceeding 18 months.
POWERGRID subsequently commissioned the final interstate transmission system associated with the program in February 2026.
Munjal called for a stronger deemed-generation compensation framework to address curtailment from grid constraints and protect project bankability. Any compensation would depend on the applicable power purchase agreements and regulatory provisions.
Transmission Expansion and Execution Challenges
According to Mercom&#8217;s report, India&#8217;s total installed generation capacity is projected to reach approximately 811 GW by FY31 and 1,121 GW by FY36, with renewable energy accounting for approximately 501 GW and 786 GW, respectively.
For solar and wind integration between FY27 and FY36, approximately 137,500 ckm of interstate and intrastate transmission lines and 828 GVA of transformation capacity will be required.
More than 56,000 ckm of transmission lines and 338 GVA of transformation capacity were under construction through FY30. The broader planned pipeline identified more than 102,000 ckm and 891 GVA through FY35.
India&#8217;s identified transmission investment requirement through 2035 could exceed ₹15 trillion (~$155.61 billion), including approximately ₹10 trillion (~$103.74 billion) for renewable energy integration, according to Mercom.
The expansion is expected to increase demand for substations, transformers, high-capacity conductors, and high-voltage direct current equipment. However, simultaneous execution of multiple projects could strain equipment supply chains, particularly for components with long manufacturing lead times.
<a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-107264 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3.png" alt="Solar and Wind Capacity Covered by the ISTS Pipeline (GW) " width="2321" height="1437" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3.png 2321w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-300x186.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-2000x1238.png 2000w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-768x475.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-1536x951.png 1536w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-2048x1268.png 2048w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-650x402.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-624x386.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/3-600x371.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2321px) 100vw, 2321px" /></a>
Rao said the immediate priority is ensuring that planned infrastructure becomes operational where and when renewable energy projects require connectivity.
He recommended publishing and regularly updating commissioning schedules for substations, evacuation bays, and transmission corridors to improve visibility for developers.
Munjal called for faster development of green energy evacuation corridors, including high-voltage direct current and 765 kV alternating current links connecting renewable-rich regions with major demand centers.
He also called for time-bound land acquisition, ROW, and forest clearances through a single-window approval mechanism.
Role of Energy Storage and Coordinated Planning
As solar capacity expands, generation is increasingly concentrated during daylight hours, creating additional challenges for grid management.
High daytime generation can increase congestion and curtailment risks, while declining solar output requires additional dispatchable capacity.
Industry experts see renewable energy procurement shifting toward firm, dispatchable renewable energy; round-the-clock power; assured peak supply; and projects integrated with storage.
Battery energy storage systems can absorb electricity during periods of high renewable generation and discharge it during evening demand peaks. Pumped storage can provide larger-scale and longer-duration energy shifting.
Rao cited CEA&#8217;s projections of 47.24 GW/236.22 GWh of battery storage and 26.69 GW/175.18 GWh of pumped storage requirements by FY 2031-32.
Storage can improve grid flexibility but cannot replace the transmission infrastructure needed to move electricity between generation and consumption centers.
Sheth recommended integrating planning of generation pipelines, substations, transmission corridors, and storage requirements, supported by realistic commissioning schedules.
He also suggested that connectivity allocation should increasingly reflect project readiness to ensure efficient utilization of transmission capacity.
Rao called for integrated commissioning schedules involving developers, state transmission utilities, central agencies, and equipment suppliers, with clearly assigned responsibilities and regular milestone reviews.
Greater visibility into transmission readiness, earlier identification of potential delays, and closer coordination between generation and network development could help developers manage construction schedules, financing requirements, and project execution risks.

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