India shifts clean-energy focus from building capacity to integrating power

India has reached a stage where expanding renewable generation alone will not suffice; the next challenge is to ensure that clean power is effectively transmitted, stored and utilized. At a seminar organized by Think Change Forum and partners, experts pointed to transmission limits, insufficient storage and unclear procurement routes as key obstacles, noting that solar generation was curtailed in recent months because of grid-security requirements.

They called for substantial increases in storage capacity by the end of the decade and stressed the need for commercially viable pathways for energy-intensive sectors. Former International Solar Alliance director Ajay Mathur and former MNRE secretary Upendra Tripathy both emphasized that implementation and adoption of clean-energy technologies should now be the priority. The panel also urged better coordination of policy, finance and technology, as well as the strengthening of domestic value chains to support the transition.