Background and Context
Solar and wind energy plants are set up quickly, but the transmission lines that carry their electricity to consumers take longer to build. When the capacity to draw out power (evacuation) falls short, the grid operator reduces the plants' output, which is called curtailment. The framework of access to the inter-state transmission system (ISTS) is determined by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission's (CERC) 2022 regulations.
Why in the News
According to Reuters' and The Hindu's reports of 28 July 2026, the Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, told Parliament that in April-June 2026, 8,133 GWh of solar power was curtailed: 2,417 in April, 3,235 in May and 2,481 GWh in June. According to the government, this curtailment was done to maintain grid security and because of the gap in timing between transmission lines and renewable projects coming into operation. The Indian Express (31 July) reported that about 21 GW of capacity is running on temporary grid connection (T-GNA) and developers have sought relief from banks.
Key Facts and Figures
| Curtailment (April-June 2026) | 8,133 GWh of solar power: April 2,417, May 3,235, June 2,481 GWh (government information in Parliament, according to Reuters and The Hindu); the three add to 8,133 |
|---|---|
| The government's reason | Maintaining grid security and the timing gap between transmission lines and renewable projects coming into operation (The Hindu) |
| The T-GNA rule | CERC GNA Regulations 2022: T-GNA within the ATC, after setting aside GNA holders (Rule 29.1); priority to GNA holders (Rule 29.2); period one time-block to 11 months (Rule 28.1) |
| The position of projects (news) | About 21 GW (about 9% of installed renewable capacity) on temporary connection; restrictions on 12 GW in peak solar hours; restrictions on about 6,900 GWh in financial year 2025-26 (The Indian Express, citing government figures) |
| The developers' side | According to developers, curtailment up to 70-80%; the SPDA wrote to the MNRE for relief on 22 July (The Indian Express) |
| The transmission plan (PIB, 30 July) | The network from 5.09 lakh circuit km (June 2026) to 6.48 lakh circuit km by 2032; inter-regional capacity from 120 GW to 168 GW |
The Three Different Causes of Curtailment and Their Difference
Grid security: One cause of the curtailment given in the government's statement is grid security. According to The Indian Express, developers receive compensation when power is reduced for grid-security reasons.
The timing gap of transmission and projects: The second cause is the gap between the lines coming into operation and the projects being ready. According to The Indian Express, no compensation is given for curtailment of T-GNA projects for this reason, and this is the developers' main concern. We have not read any compensation rule ourselves.
The priority rule: Rule 29.2 gives GNA priority over T-GNA. It is our interpretation that this rule becomes the basis for T-GNA projects being curtailed first in times of congestion; we did not find a direct provision on the order of curtailment in the parts of those regulations that we read.
Why This Subject Matters
The target and the pace of infrastructure: According to Reuters, India has a clean-energy target of 500 GW by 2030, while the present capacity is 288 GW. The gap between the pace of adding capacity and the pace of transmission therefore becomes the practical question of the energy transition. This is our interpretation.
Financial risk: According to The Indian Express, 12 public-sector banks and IREDA, PFC, REC, NaBFID, IIFCL and SIDBI gave about ₹5.08 lakh crore to the renewable sector in financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The developers' and industry experts' fear of NPAs is their warning, not the conclusion of any government or banking figure.
Points of Debate and Cautions
The source of the figures: We have not matched the 8,133 GWh of curtailment against the text of the original answer in Parliament; it is based on Reuters' and The Hindu's reports. Matters like 21 GW, 12 GW and 70-80% are from the news and cited from developers; we have not matched them with the issuer.
The portion of the rules: Rules 29.1 and 29.2 were read from the consolidated copy on CERC's site (including the third amendment). This copy is the commission's consolidated copy, not the separate notification of each amendment; we have not searched for any later amendment.
The later position: According to the news headlines, further events happened in August-October 2026 (such as the report on considering relief loans, the report on allowing sales from co-located battery storage and the September curtailment figures). We have not read these, so the article says nothing about today's position.
Way Forward
These are the things to watch next: the pace of transmission projects coming into operation, the next curtailment figures and the financial sector's decision on the developers' request for relief. We have no issuer-confirmed information on these after July 2026.
The Difference in Concepts
Keep four things separate: (1) the text of CERC's regulations; (2) the report of the government's statement, that is 8,133 GWh and its reasons; (3) the claims of developers and experts; and (4) our interpretation that the priority rule shifts the burden of curtailment towards T-GNA.
Mains Perspective
GS-III: energy, infrastructure, renewable energy; GS-II: regulation. In the answer, write the rule, the government figures and the industry's claims separately with their sources.
Answer Outline
Introduction: The meaning of curtailment.
Main Body: GNA and T-GNA; the priority rule; the figures and reasons; financial risk; limits.
Conclusion: Say that transmission and grid access must keep pace with growth in solar capacity; explain the priority of GNA and the financial risk of T-GNA projects, and keep the news-based curtailment figures separate from the verified original government answer.
Sources
- CERC: Connectivity and General Network Access to the ISTS Regulations, 2022 (consolidated copy including the third amendment; the definitions and Chapter 6 were read)
- Reuters: India holds back 8,133 GWh of solar power in April-June quarter owing to transmission constraints (28 July 2026)
- The Hindu: India curtailed 8,133 GWh solar power in Q1 to 'maintain grid security' (28 July 2026)
- The Indian Express: Why transmission bottlenecks are threatening India's renewable energy boom (31 July 2026)
- PIB: Assessment of National Power Grid (30 July 2026), the main text read
CERC's regulations were read from the consolidated copy on the commission's site. We could not obtain the original answer in Parliament; 8,133 GWh is cited from Reuters and The Hindu. The matters of 21 GW, 12 GW, 70-80% and compensation are cited from The Indian Express. The main text of PIB's release of 30 July was read, not its tables. The events of August-October 2026 were seen only from headlines.
Remember: According to the government, 8,133 GWh of solar power was curtailed in April-June 2026; CERC's regulations give GNA priority over T-GNA, so concern is expressed that the pressure of curtailment remains higher on T-GNA projects.
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