CEA meeting reviews 4 GW renewable energy curtailment in Rajasthan

A meeting convened by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on December 15, 2025, reviewed the ongoing large-scale curtailment of renewable energy generation in Rajasthan. The meeting was chaired by CEA Chairperson Shri Ghanshyam Prasad and attended by representatives from Grid-India, Central Transmission Utility (CTUIL), and the Sustainable Projects Developers Association (SPDA), along with several renewable energy developers.

SPDA informed the authority that around 4 GW of commissioned renewable energy projects in Rajasthan continue to face curtailment due to the non-availability of Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA) margins during peak solar hours. This persists despite the commissioning of the Khetri–Narela 765 kV double circuit transmission line.

Grid India explained that before the Khetri–Narela line was commissioned, about 3.8 GW out of 8.6 GW of commissioned renewable capacity without effective General Network Access was allowed to inject power during peak solar hours, with the balance staggered across other periods. After the line became operational, CTUIL made GNA effective for around 4.8 GW of renewable capacity. However, injection for the remaining approximately 4 GW remains restricted between 11 am and 2 pm, with power allowed at other times.

The discussion identified multiple technical constraints contributing to congestion. These include voltage oscillations at renewable energy pooling stations, low short circuit ratio at certain nodes, thermal loading on the Bhadla to Bikaner 400 kV double circuit line under Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, and high utilisation of the 765 kV Bikaner–Khetri double circuit line.

The meeting agreed on a set of follow up actions. Grid India will share Phasor Measurement Unit data with affected developers to help analyse voltage oscillations and control interactions at plant level. Transmission utilities will share realistic commissioning timelines for under construction network elements to improve coordination with renewable project schedules. The urgent upgrade of the Bhadla–Bikaner 400 kV corridor, including terminal equipment, will be taken up through a separate meeting involving Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam and POWERGRID. Grid India and CTUIL will also carry out joint studies to identify further network augmentation needs and assess the use of Dynamic Line Rating to provide interim relief, with findings to be placed before the National Committee on Transmission.

Developers including Eden Renewable, RPSG Ventures, Juniper Green Energy, O2 Power, Serentica, Sembcorp, Sunsure, ReNew, Ayana Power, Waaree Energies, Avaada, and ACME participated in the meeting.

The featured photograph is for representation only.