The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released a comprehensive strategic roadmap to integrate over 900 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity into India's national grid by 2035-36. To support a projected peak electricity demand of 459 GW, the plan envisages a total installed capacity of 1,121 GW, with solar and wind contributing a combined 664 GW.
To address the "gestation gap" — where renewable projects are built faster than transmission lines — the government has planned a massive infrastructure rollout involving 137,500 circuit kilometers (ckm) of lines and 827,600 MVA of substation capacity at an estimated cost of ₹7,93,300 crore. This includes the introduction of ultra-high-voltage 1150 kV AC systems and 800 kV HVDC links to evacuate power from high-potential zones in Ladakh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and offshore wind sites in Tamil Nadu.
Key Components of the 2035-36 Transmission Roadmap
Renewable Energy Zones (REZ): Targeted evacuation systems for high-potential clusters in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Assam, and Ladakh.
Offshore Wind Integration: Dedicated transmission corridors for 10 GW of offshore wind capacity split equally between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Green Energy Corridors (GEC): Expansion through GEC-III, which alone aims to integrate 134.7 GW of RE capacity using over 51,000 ckm of transmission lines.
Technological Leap: Deployment of 1150 kV transmission systems to serve large industrial hubs and high-potential RE areas, ensuring minimal transmission losses over long distances.
Hydro & Nuclear Support: Transmission planning for an additional 12.7 GW of hydroelectric and 7 GW of nuclear capacity to ensure a balanced, clean baseload.
Long-Duration Storage: Requirement for 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) by 2034-35 to manage the intermittency of the 664 GW solar and wind fleet.
What is a "Renewable Energy Zone" (REZ)? A Renewable Energy Zone is a geographic area characterised by high concentrations of solar or wind energy potential where transmission infrastructure is planned in advance to spur development. It plays a role in solving the "chicken-and-egg" problem of the energy transition: developers are hesitant to build without a grid, and the grid is hard to justify without plants. By pre-identifying zones in states like Rajasthan and Ladakh, the CEA reflects growth in "anticipatory planning," ensuring that when a solar park is completed in 18 months, the 36-month transmission line is already reaching the site. This approach is supported by the goal of minimising energy curtailment, ensuring that every unit of green power generated can reach the national "India Energy Stack".
Policy Relevance: Anchoring the 900 GW Green Transition
Scaling Grid Resilience: The ₹7.93 lakh crore investment reflects growth in the government's commitment to building a "future-ready" grid that can handle the massive bidirectional flows of a decentralized energy system.
Internalising Source Sustainability: Aligning with Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0’s focus on aquifer recharge, the 100 GW Pumped Storage target plays a role in using water infrastructure as a "giant battery" for the power grid.
Bypassing Land and Gestation Bottlenecks: The use of 1150 kV lines is supported by the need to carry more power over narrower right-of-way corridors, reducing the environmental and social footprint of massive infrastructure.
Supporting "Viksit Bharat" Industrial Hubs: The transmission plan contributes to the viability of the 100 new BHAVYA industrial parks by ensuring they have access to 24x7 clean, reliable power.
Leveraging Carbon Finance: High-integrity credits generated through the Indian Carbon Market Portal could provide the "green premium" required to fund the long-distance corridors from remote zones like Ladakh.
Follow the Full Plan Here: Transmission Plan for Integration of over 900 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity
