India’s electricity grid is under growing strain due to the rapid addition of grid-connected renewable energy, rising temperatures, ageing infrastructure, and shifting demographics and consumption patterns. These pressures have led to more frequent power outages and intermittent power generation across large parts of the country.
For India to achieve its ambitions of becoming a global superpower and attaining energy independence, a strong, resilient, and flexible electricity grid is essential.
This can be enabled through several key mechanisms:
Smart Grid Systems
Smart grids improve energy efficiency, reliability, and resilience while enhancing grid flexibility. They enable real-time monitoring and management of variable loads and rising demand.Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Energy storage allows peak demand to be managed effectively by storing excess power and dispatching it during periods of high load or grid downtime, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply.Decentralised Power Sources
Rooftop solar, mini wind turbines, and other decentralised generation systems can be integrated directly into buildings, reducing dependence on the central grid and lowering the risk of outages.
The Government of India has taken significant steps to strengthen grid infrastructure and promote the adoption of renewable energy and BESS. Key initiatives include subsidies under schemes such as PM-Surya Ghar, PM-KUSUM, and the PLI framework; Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for critical projects; and large-scale transmission upgrades through the Green Energy Corridor.
Despite this progress, much faster and more coordinated action is required to ensure the grid can reliably handle India’s rapidly growing and increasingly volatile electricity demand
