How much renewable power can India’s electricity grid handle?

Abstract

India has achieved a rapid increase in the production of energy from renewable sources over the last decade. The Government is also preparing its climate change strategy for 2050, which is expected to rely heavily on renewable energy promotion. However, the grid’s ability to integrate higher rates of renewable electricity is a potential risk to India achieving its targets. This paper explores grid integration of renewables in India in more detail, the solutions that have already been attempted, and what else is required. All countries are grappling with the technical, policy, and regulatory challenges of grid integration of renewable energy; India’s experience to date offers useful learning for other developing countries. This research is part of the Energy and Economic Growth Applied Research Programme