Rajasthan Gridlock: 4 GW Renewables Curtailed Despite New Transmission Line

Rajasthan Renewable Curtailment Crisis Continues

Renewable energy developers in Rajasthan are grappling with severe power curtailment issues, leaving over 4 GW of operational capacity largely offline during peak solar production hours. This persistent problem continues despite the recent operationalization of the 765 kV Khetri-Narela transmission line, which was expected to alleviate grid congestion.

A stakeholder meeting on December 15, 2025, revealed that projects connected under the Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA) mechanism are experiencing almost complete curtailment between 11 am and 2 pm. This situation has worsened since the Khetri-Narela line went live on December 12, directly contrary to expectations.

Transmission Bottlenecks Remain

Grid India reported that before the new transmission line, approximately 3.8 GW of renewable capacity received injection permits during peak solar hours under T-GNA. Following the line's commissioning, Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) approved connectivity for about 4.8 GW. However, around 4 GW of commissioned capacity remains restricted to non-peak periods.

The Sustainable Projects Developers Association (SPDA) noted that the Khetri-Narela line has only provided an estimated 600 MW of effective transmission margin. The association also pointed out discrepancies in connectivity approvals and revocations, suggesting that available margin should be higher. The exact reasons for the ongoing extensive curtailment remain unclear.

Technical Constraints Cited

Grid India cited several technical challenges hindering renewable power evacuation from Rajasthan. These include voltage oscillations at renewable energy complexes, low short-circuit ratios at pooling stations, loading issues on the Bhadla-Bikaner 400 kV corridor, and high load on the 765 kV Bikaner-Khetri line. These constraints collectively limit the grid's capacity to absorb solar power when it is most abundant.

Risk to Viability and Targets

Developers warn that sustained curtailments jeopardize project economics, debt servicing capabilities, and investor confidence, particularly for projects relying on T-GNA due to upstream transmission delays. Prolonged shutdowns also compromise the functionality of grid-stabilizing equipment, potentially affecting overall grid stability. Industry stakeholders fear that without immediate corrective actions, Rajasthan's curtailment issues could slow down new renewable capacity additions, create stressed assets, and hinder India's national goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.