India is racing toward its climate commitments with record-breaking renewable energy installations. The 2025–26 period marks a turning point, as solar and wind capacity additions reach unprecedented levels. But adding gigawatts of clean power is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in connecting these distributed generation sources to consumers through upgraded transmission networks and ensuring they operate reliably for decades.
This shift creates massive demand for transmission infrastructure and operations and maintenance (O&M) services. Companies like Almighty Energy are positioning themselves to support this transformation by addressing the technical and logistical challenges that come with integrating renewable sources into India’s power grid.
Let’s break down what this renewable surge means for the country’s energy infrastructure and the growing opportunities in transmission and O&M sectors.
Understanding India’s Renewable Capacity Push
India has set a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. Recent policy announcements and project pipelines suggest the country is adding 25–30 GW of renewable capacity annually during 2025–26. Solar parks in Rajasthan and Gujarat, offshore wind projects along the coasts, and hybrid renewable energy zones are coming online at an accelerated pace.
The government’s push through production-linked incentive schemes and waiver of interstate transmission charges for renewable projects has attracted significant private investment. International funding from development banks and sovereign wealth funds is flowing into Indian renewable projects, further accelerating deployment.
This rapid expansion presents a fundamental infrastructure question: how do you move power from remote solar farms in Rajasthan or wind parks in Tamil Nadu to demand centres in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru? The answer requires substantial transmission network upgrades.
Why Transmission Infrastructure Becomes Critical
Renewable energy sources are geographically constrained. Solar performs best in high-irradiance regions, while wind requires coastal or elevated terrain with consistent wind speeds. These locations rarely align with major consumption centres. Moving large volumes of power across states and regions requires high-voltage transmission lines, substations, and grid management systems.
The Central Electricity Authority estimates that India needs to add approximately 27,000 circuit kilometres of transmission lines by 2027 to accommodate planned renewable capacity. This includes ultra-high voltage DC (UHVDC) corridors that can transmit power across 2,000 kilometres with minimal losses.
Green Energy Corridors, a programme designed to evacuate renewable power, has already commissioned several transmission projects. Phase II of this initiative will add another 10,000 circuit kilometres of lines connecting renewable-rich states to the national grid.
Here is why this matters. Without adequate evacuation infrastructure, renewable projects face curtailment. Wind and solar farms sit idle because there is no way to transport their output. This wastes capital, delays returns on investment, and slows down India’s clean energy transition.
Almighty Energy understands these challenges and works on projects that connect renewable generation sources to existing grids. Their expertise in transmission line construction and grid integration helps reduce evacuation bottlenecks.
Grid Stability Challenges with Variable Renewable Energy
Unlike thermal plants that generate consistent baseload power, solar and wind are variable. Solar generation peaks during midday and drops to zero after sunset. Wind patterns shift seasonally and even hourly. This variability creates stability challenges for grid operators.
Frequency regulation becomes more complex when a significant portion of generation comes from renewables. Grid frequency must remain within narrow bands (49.9–50.05 Hz in India). Thermal plants traditionally provided this stability through their rotational inertia. Inverter-based renewable sources lack this physical inertia, requiring new technical solutions.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are being deployed to smooth out fluctuations. Pumped hydro storage and green hydrogen production also help absorb excess renewable generation. Grid operators are adopting advanced forecasting tools that predict solar and wind output with improving accuracy, allowing better dispatch planning.
The National Load Despatch Centre is implementing real-time monitoring systems that track renewable generation across states. This data helps balance supply and demand, reducing the risk of grid instability.
Transmission projects now incorporate flexibility features like dynamic line rating systems that adjust capacity based on real-time conditions. Flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) devices regulate power flow and voltage levels, compensating for renewable variability.
Long-Term O&M Requirements for Renewable Assets
Building renewable capacity is capital-intensive, but operating it efficiently over 25–30 years requires sustained O&M attention. Solar panels degrade over time, wind turbines face mechanical wear, and inverters need regular servicing. Without proper maintenance, generation efficiency drops, and asset lifespans shorten.
O&M contracts for renewable projects are shifting from basic reactive maintenance to predictive and condition-based monitoring. Thermal imaging detects hotspots in solar arrays before they fail. Vibration sensors on wind turbine gearboxes identify bearing issues early, preventing costly breakdowns.
Almighty Energy offers comprehensive O&M services that extend asset life and maintain performance ratios. Their approach combines field technicians with remote monitoring systems, ensuring quick response times when issues arise.
The scale of India’s renewable fleet means O&M demand will grow substantially. By 2030, India will have over 400 GW of solar and wind capacity requiring routine servicing. This translates to thousands of solar parks and wind farms spread across remote locations, each needing skilled technicians, spare parts logistics, and performance tracking.
Workforce and Skill Development Needs
The renewable and transmission sectors face a skills gap. Electromechanical technicians trained for thermal plants need retraining for solar inverter maintenance and wind turbine systems. High-voltage transmission work requires specialised knowledge of HVDC technology and substation operations.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has launched skill development programmes targeting 50,000 technicians annually. Industry associations are partnering with technical institutes to create certification courses in solar panel installation, wind turbine maintenance, and grid management.
Companies entering the O&M space must invest in workforce training. Technicians need hands-on experience with diagnostic tools, safety protocols for working at height (for wind turbines), and electrical safety standards for high-voltage environments.
The demand for engineers skilled in grid integration, power electronics, and energy storage systems is rising. Universities are expanding their renewable energy curriculum, but industry-led training remains critical for practical knowledge transfer.
Regulatory and Financial Frameworks Supporting Growth
India’s regulatory environment is adapting to support renewable growth. The Electricity (Amendment) Act proposes measures to strengthen transmission planning and ensure open access for renewable generators. State electricity regulatory commissions are revising tariff structures to encourage grid-responsive renewable generation.
Financial mechanisms like green bonds, infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs), and sovereign guarantees are mobilising capital for transmission projects. The National Infrastructure Pipeline includes substantial allocation for power transmission, recognising its role in renewable integration.
Payment security mechanisms ensure renewable generators receive timely payments, reducing financial risk. The government’s commitment to honouring power purchase agreements builds investor confidence.
These frameworks make long-term transmission and O&M projects financially viable. Developers can secure debt financing at competitive rates, and O&M service providers can enter multi-year contracts with stable revenue streams.
What This Means for Industry Players
The renewable surge creates distinct opportunities across the value chain. Equipment manufacturers will supply transformers, switchgear, and protection systems for new substations. EPC contractors will build transmission corridors, while service providers like Almighty Energy will handle long-term operations.
Project developers are forming strategic partnerships with transmission and O&M specialists early in the planning phase. This integrated approach reduces project risks and ensures smoother commissioning.
International players are entering the Indian market through joint ventures and technology partnerships. European and Chinese firms bring expertise in HVDC systems and offshore wind, while domestic companies provide local execution capabilities and regulatory knowledge.
The shift toward renewable energy also drives innovation in ancillary markets. Drone-based solar panel cleaning, AI-powered grid management platforms, and blockchain-enabled energy trading systems are emerging sectors with growth potential.
Regional Variations and Infrastructure Priorities
Different states face distinct infrastructure needs. Rajasthan and Gujarat, with abundant solar resources, need evacuation corridors to northern and western grids. Tamil Nadu’s wind capacity requires strengthening of southern grid interconnections. Coastal states developing offshore wind will need specialised substations and undersea cable infrastructure.
Hilly and remote areas pose construction challenges for transmission lines. Helicopter-based tower erection, compact substations, and gas-insulated switchgear help overcome terrain constraints.
Inter-state coordination becomes critical. The Central Transmission Utility plays a key role in planning corridors that cross state boundaries, ensuring no single state’s transmission bottleneck limits another’s renewable potential.
Preparing for the Next Decade
India’s renewable capacity will likely exceed 500 GW before 2030 if current trends continue. This requires planning beyond immediate transmission needs. Grid operators are exploring multi-terminal HVDC networks that create a pan-India renewable energy highway, moving power seamlessly from surplus to deficit regions.
Energy storage integration will become standard in transmission planning. Large-scale BESS installations at strategic grid nodes can absorb renewable surpluses and release power during demand peaks, reducing the need for expensive fossil fuel peaking plants.
Green hydrogen production, powered by curtailed renewable energy, offers another avenue for balancing supply and demand. Electrolysers can ramp up when solar generation peaks, converting excess electricity into storable hydrogen.
The next generation of transmission infrastructure will incorporate digital substations, IoT-enabled monitoring, and automated fault detection. These technologies reduce manual intervention, improve reliability, and lower operating costs.
India’s renewable surge is reshaping the country’s energy landscape. The transmission and O&M sectors stand at the centre of this transformation, ensuring clean power reaches consumers reliably. As capacity additions accelerate, the demand for specialised infrastructure and maintenance services will continue growing, creating opportunities for companies prepared to meet these challenges head-on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is driving India’s renewable surge in 2025–26?
Government policies, production-linked incentives, and international climate commitments are accelerating renewable capacity additions. Solar and wind projects are becoming cost-competitive with thermal power, attracting private investment. Waiver of interstate transmission charges for renewable projects also encourages deployment. Annual additions are reaching 25–30 GW, pushing India closer to its 500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030.
Q2: Why do renewable projects require new transmission infrastructure?
Renewable energy sources are located in remote, resource-rich areas far from consumption centres. High-voltage transmission lines are needed to evacuate this power across states with minimal losses. Without adequate transmission capacity, renewable projects face curtailment, wasting generated power. India needs approximately 27,000 circuit kilometres of new transmission lines by 2027 to accommodate planned renewable capacity.
Q3: How does renewable energy affect grid stability?
Solar and wind generation vary with weather conditions, unlike thermal plants that provide consistent baseload power. This variability challenges frequency regulation and requires new balancing mechanisms. Battery storage, pumped hydro, real-time forecasting, and flexible transmission systems help manage these fluctuations. Grid operators use advanced monitoring tools to maintain stability as renewable penetration increases.
Q4: What O&M challenges do renewable assets face?
Solar panels degrade over time, wind turbines experience mechanical wear, and inverters need regular servicing. Without proper maintenance, generation efficiency drops and asset lifespans shorten. Predictive maintenance using thermal imaging, vibration sensors, and remote monitoring systems helps identify issues before failures occur. Skilled technicians and spare parts logistics are critical for managing large, geographically dispersed renewable fleets.
Q5: What skills are needed in the renewable and transmission sectors?
Technicians need training in solar inverter maintenance, wind turbine systems, and high-voltage transmission operations. Engineers require expertise in grid integration, power electronics, and energy storage systems. Safety protocols for working at height and with high-voltage equipment are critical. The government and industry are launching certification programmes to develop 50,000 skilled workers annually to meet growing demand.
