India to launch new weather satellite for renewable grid stability

India plans to launch a weather satellite and upgrade its forecasting systems as climate variability disrupts solar and wind output, reported the Mint. The Ministries of New and Renewable Energy and Earth Sciences are developing a joint prediction system to improve the modelling of weather patterns that affect renewable generation.

Recent drops in wind speed and sudden weather changes have strained the grid and raised concerns about supply security. The grid operator has asked power producers to stay alert and maintain reserves. Other countries such as Spain and Portugal have also faced outages linked to unexpected weather shifts.

Officials say better forecasting is essential. Work is underway on improved tools, including Doppler radars and a dedicated satellite. According to M Ravichandran, the new satellite will offer more accurate and customised forecasts and is planned for launch in 2028–29.