India's electrical transmission capacity significantly increased from 75,050 megawatts to 1,20,340 megawatts over an 8-year period, as reported by the Minister.
The Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik, has announced that a robust National Grid has been established in India to facilitate power transfer and manage imbalances in power supply and demand due to locational constraints. The current power transmission capacity in India stands at 1,20,340 MW, an expansion from 75,050 MW in 2016-17.
The minister's response was tabled in response to a question raised by Congress member Shashi Tharoor about the impact of regional disparities on the overall power supply and the effectiveness of the transmission infrastructure. However, the minister did not specify the exact number of states with deficit power supply or clarify whether regional disparities in power generation impact the overall surplus of power.
The aim is to increase the power transmission capacity to 1,68,000 MW by 2032, with an investment of ₹4.91 lakh crore planned between 2027 and 2032 to upgrade the power grid. This expansion is intertwined with modernising power transmission infrastructure, involving upgrading existing lines, adding new transmission lines, and improving grid stability to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.
India's state-wise power generation capacity varies widely, with renewable energy playing a significant role. As of October 2023, India aims to install 275,000 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2027 and recently achieved a milestone where 50% of its installed electricity generating capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources. The country plans to boost its nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-2032 and reach 500 GW of non-fossil power capacity by 2032, with significant contributions from solar and wind energy.
While specific state-wise targets for power generation capacity are not detailed, states like Gujarat and Rajasthan are key for solar and wind projects due to high irradiation levels. The shift towards decentralised generation through rooftop solar schemes is also expected to spread across states.
The minister did not mention any specific plans to address the issue of power supply imbalances in the short term. The Centre aims to increase the power transmission capacity to 1,43,000 MW by 2027. The minister also furnished a detailed break-up of the power generation capacity across states along with the fuel sources in each state, such as coal, hydro, natural gas, and nuclear.
Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor had asked about specific short-term and long-term remedial measures to strengthen transmission networks in deficit-prone states. The minister, however, did not provide explicit information about any planned remedial measures to strengthen transmission networks in deficit-prone states.
The minister's response did not include specific plans for addressing power supply imbalances in the short term, yet the aim is to expand the power transmission capacity in India, reaching 1,43,000 MW by 2027 as part of a larger goal to upgrade the power grid, which is intertwined with the finance and energy sectors, with ₹4.91 lakh crore planned for investment. The expansion aims to modernize power transmission infrastructure, accommodate variable renewable energy sources, and address regional disparities in power generation, including states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, which are key for solar and wind projects.
