India faces solar energy waste amid surging power demand

India is facing significant challenges in its energy transition as surging power demand coincides with the curtailment of renewable energy. According to data from the energy think tank Ember, India curtailed nearly 11 terawatt-hours of solar generation over the last 15 months—an amount sufficient to power approximately 10 million homes. This waste occurs because the national grid lacks the transmission and storage capacity to handle excess clean electricity during peak production periods.

To address the instability caused by the solar-driven ‘duck curve’—where demand drops midday and spikes in the evening—the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is exploring ways to make thermal power plants more flexible. While companies like NTPC have raised concerns regarding equipment damage and reduced plant life due to frequent cycling and low-load operations, an empirical study by the CEA and Intertek suggested that steady low-load operation at 55% Minimum Technical Load did not show measurable direct degradation in tested units.

Experts emphasize that meeting India’s goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 will require more than just building solar and wind farms. The country must also invest in expanded transmission lines, battery storage, and a more flexible power system to balance the intermittent nature of renewables with the continued reliance on coal.