India's Green Energy Boom Is Being Undercut by Transmission Shortfalls

India has made significant progress in decarbonising its electricity generation in recent years, but a shortage of transmission infrastructure is preventing much of that green energy from being used effectively, according to a BBC Science & Environment report.

The country has rapidly expanded its renewable energy capacity, adding substantial amounts of solar and wind power to its electricity grid. That expansion has been credited with helping shift India's overall generation mix away from fossil fuels at a pace that has drawn international attention.

However, the report notes that the gains from this renewable buildout are being tempered by transmission shortages — meaning the grid infrastructure needed to carry electricity from where it is generated, often in remote or rural areas with strong solar and wind resources, to where it is needed has not kept pace with generation capacity.

As a result, a portion of the clean electricity India generates reportedly goes unused, representing a missed opportunity to displace fossil fuel-based power generation elsewhere in the grid.

The findings point to a broader challenge facing rapidly decarbonising economies: building generation capacity is only part of the transition, with grid and transmission infrastructure often required to fully capture the benefits of renewable energy investment.