What India’s 537GW renewables capacity target needs

This is in line with its goal to achieve 50% cumulative installed capacity by 2030.

India’s plan to install 537 gigawatts of renewables capacity by 2030 will need US$30b of new transmission systems, JMK Research reported. 

The target, set by the Ministry of Power and New & Renewable Energy, is a key step in attaining the country’s plan to have non-fossil fuel-based sources account for 50% of its cumulative installed capacity by 2030. 

As of November 2022, India’s cumulative installed capacity stood at 409GW, of which non-fossil fuel-based sources contributed 42%.

“As per the committee, [led by the Central Electricity Authority], the planned transmission system will require an investment of INR 2.44 lakh crore (US$30b),” the report read.

“This would entail additional transmission lines of a total length of 50,890 circuit kilometre (ckm). Further, the inter-regional capacity will increase to about 150 GW by 2030 from 112 GW at present.”

Read more: India’s wind capacity rises by 26% 

The transmission plan also includes transmission system required for evacuation of 10 GW off-shore wind located in Gujarat and Tamil Nad. This transmission system is estimated to cost INR 0.28 lakh crore (US$3.4b).

The plan also covers the installation of Battery Energy Storage Capacity of the order of 51.5 GW by 2030 to provide round-the-clock power to end-consumers,” JMK Researcg noted.