India Curtails 1.46 Billion Units of Solar Power Amid Storage Shortage

India curtailed 1.462 billion units (MU) of solar electricity in July and August 2026, despite strong power demand, due to grid and operational constraints and insufficient energy storage, according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The report, Quarterly Energy Snapshot for India: Q2 2026–27, highlights the growing gap between renewable energy deployment and the infrastructure needed to integrate it into the power system.

Key findings include:

Rapid solar growth: India’s solar generation increased 39% year on year during the quarter, accounting for 58% of the increase in renewable electricity generation.

Rising installed capacity: Solar capacity reached 168 GW by August 2026, while total renewable capacity excluding large hydropower stood at 243 GW.

Renewable power curtailment: India wasted 1.835 billion units of renewable electricity in July and August, including 1.462 billion units of solar and 373 million units of wind power.

Limited battery storage: By August, India had tendered 151 GWh of battery energy storage projects, but only around 9.1 GWh was operational.

Electricity demand also reached a record peak of 270 GW on July 16, 2026, up 18% from 230 GW a year earlier. Despite the surge, coal-fired power plants continued to account for 66% of national electricity generation during the quarter.

CREA analyst Manoj Kumar emphasized the need to assess future thermal power investments alongside projected demand, renewable generation and storage availability.

The findings underscore the urgency of expanding grid flexibility and battery storage to reduce renewable energy waste and support India's energy transition.