India has approved the Rs 1.86 trillion Green Energy Corridor Phase III (GEC-III) scheme, aiming to bolster its intra-state transmission systems to evacuate up to 135 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy and deploy 50 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery energy storage systems (BESS) by financial year 2032-33.
The scheme focuses on strengthening transmission networks within states to more effectively evacuate and utilize renewable electricity. This initiative follows GEC-I and GEC-II, which primarily addressed inter-state and inter-regional transmission.
Despite the significant investment, concerns remain about the pace of transmission and storage infrastructure development compared to renewable capacity addition. Implementation delays due to land acquisition, right-of-way issues, and clearances have been noted. The challenge lies in synchronizing the commissioning of renewable generation with the associated transmission and storage systems to avoid curtailment and optimize grid utilization.
Source: Down To Earth