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21 GW Renewable Energy Faces Curtailment Due to Transmission Bottlenecks in India

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCBankingSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
30 Jul 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:21 GW9%6,900 GWh8,133 GWh90-95% curtailment₹5.08 lakh crore
Bodies:MNRESPDARBIIREDAPFCRECNaBFIDIIFCLSIDBIDeloitte IndiaICRA
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What This Article Covers

1.~21 GW (9% of installed RE capacity) operates under Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA), facing power evacuation restrictions.

2.In FY26, 6,900 GWh of clean electricity was curtailed; in April-June 2026 alone, 8,133 GWh was curtailed due to transmission bottlenecks.

3.Developers warn of NPAs; SPDA has sought financial relief from MNRE, including moratorium on principal repayment and concessional bridge financing.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

India's renewable energy boom is hitting a critical bottleneck: lack of transmission infrastructure. Nearly 21 GW of capacity operates on temporary grid access, facing severe curtailment (up to 90-95% in some cases), threatening project viability, debt repayment, and potentially creating NPAs for banks that have deployed ₹5.08 lakh crore in the sector.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

RE Capacity on T-GNA~21 GW (9% of installed RE capacity)
Curtailment (FY26)6,900 GWh
Curtailment (Apr-Jun 2026)8,133 GWh
Peak Curtailment (Rajasthan)90-95% of capacity
Bank Lending to RE (FY25-26)₹5.08 lakh crore
Industry BodySustainable Project Developers Association (SPDA)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›RE Capacity on T-GNA: ~21 GW (9% of installed RE capacity)
  • ›Curtailment (FY26): 6,900 GWh
  • ›Target this Data: 21 GW (9%) of RE capacity on T-GNA; 6,900 GWh curtailed in FY26; 8,133 GWh in Apr-Jun 2026
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE); Sustainable Project Developers Association (SPDA)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA) framework vs General Network Access (GNA)

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry is primarily responsible for renewable energy policy and coordination in India?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements:

1. Projects under Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA) have firm transmission evacuation rights.

2. Renewable energy sources like solar enjoy 'must-run' status but can still be backed down on grounds of grid security and transmission bottlenecks.

3. In Rajasthan, some RE projects face curtailment as high as 90-95% of their generating capacity.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, how much clean electricity (in GWh) was curtailed in the first quarter of FY26 (April-June 2026) due to transmission bottlenecks and grid security?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary financial risk highlighted in the article regarding renewable energy projects operating under Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA)?

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