CREA Report Highlights Rising Solar and Wind Wastage Amidst Record Generation

CREA Report Highlights Rising Solar and Wind Wastage Amidst Record Generation

May 2, 2026

In a sobering reminder of the challenges facing India’s green transition, a new report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reveals that the country was forced to “curtail” or waste 3.1 GW of renewable energy capacity during the final quarter (Q4) of FY26. Despite the country’s success in meeting record peak demands, this wastage highlights a persistent gap between India’s massive solar and wind generation and the grid’s ability to actually transport and store that power.

Curtailment occurs when grid operators intentionally reduce the output from renewable sources because the transmission lines are congested or there isn’t enough demand at that specific moment. According to CREA, the 3.1 GW wasted during the January–March 2026 period is a significant jump, driven largely by high generation in renewable-rich states like Rajasthan and Gujarat. This “lost” energy could have powered millions of households, but instead, it was simply throttled back to maintain grid stability.

The report underscores that while India is building solar parks at a world-leading pace, the “soft infrastructure”—including battery storage and flexible transmission corridors—is still playing catch-up. As the government moves toward its 500 GW target, experts warn that without a massive push into Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to “time-shift” this excess power, curtailment rates will continue to rise, potentially hurting the financial returns of green energy developers.