Delays in Solar Projects Raise Concerns: Land and Transmission Bottlenecks Could Derail Affordable Energy Goals

By-Z A Ansari : New Delhi – In 2022, the Government of India initiated an ambitious plan to generate approximately 50,000 MW of solar power by awarding tenders to several Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). These included major allocations such as 2,000 MW to NTPC, 1,000 MW to NHPC, and 1,000 MW to SJVN, with the aim of delivering clean, affordable power to the grid.

As part of the policy, CPSEs were promised a financial support of ₹45 lakh per MW, helping reduce the cost of power production and benefiting end consumers. The projects were slated for completion by 2024. However, as of now, substantial delays have been observed across various stages of implementation.

According to a top-level source from NewsIP, the primary challenges facing these projects are the availability of land and lack of transmission infrastructure. These bottlenecks have significantly slowed down project execution, particularly in regions where plants are either complete or nearing readiness but lack proper grid connectivity to transmit power.

Additionally, it has been indicated that system upgrades to the Power Grid have not kept pace with project development, further complicating integration into the national transmission network.

The situation raises important concerns around policy coordination and project execution efficiency. Without urgent attention to these structural issues, India’s clean energy objectives and the economic return on public investments in the solar sector may be at risk.

Authorities are expected to assess the ground realities and intervene where necessary to ensure that these national projects move forward without further delays, preserving both public interest and strategic energy goals.