India Plans China-Style Super Grid To Support 1,800 GW Renewable Energy Goal By 2050

At the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, Santosh Kumar Sarangi highlighted the urgent need for India to adopt a “super grid” planning strategy similar to China in order to successfully integrate large-scale renewable energy into the national power system. He stated that according to projections by NITI Aayog, India will require nearly 1,800 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2050, making grid modernization and transmission infrastructure a top priority for the country.

Sarangi explained that one of the major challenges in India’s renewable energy expansion is the uneven geographical distribution of solar and wind resources. States such as Rajasthan and Gujarat possess strong renewable energy potential, but the demand for electricity is concentrated in industrial and urban regions located far away from these generation zones. To address this issue, the government plans to invest nearly $574 billion by 2030 in transmission infrastructure. The proposed super grid will include High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) transmission lines, which will help efficiently transfer renewable power across the country.

The MNRE Secretary also discussed technological developments that could significantly reduce renewable energy costs in the future. He said that ongoing research into perovskite solar cells could lower solar tariffs to as little as ₹1 per unit. In addition, he stressed the importance of developing affordable energy storage technologies beyond the currently popular Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. According to him, energy storage systems, grid-forming inverters, and synchronous condensers will play a critical role in maintaining grid stability as India increases its share of intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind power.

Sarangi further emphasized the need for flexible and stable policy support to maintain investor confidence in the renewable energy sector. He noted that the government is working closely with the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Transmission Utility of India to prevent renewable energy curtailment, where clean power generation goes unused because of transmission constraints.

The government is also focusing on decentralizing power generation through schemes such as PM Kusum and PM Surya Ghar. Plans are being considered to encourage specialized renewable projects including agri-photovoltaics and floating solar systems. Additionally, the government aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing of key solar components such as polysilicon and ingot-wafers. Sarangi concluded that close coordination between central and state governments will be essential to modernize intrastate power networks and support India’s long-term clean energy goals.