India’s Power Grid Starts New Line to Carry 4.5 GW of Clean Energy

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has started operations of a new high-capacity transmission line that can move up to 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity from the Khavda region into the national grid, marking a major step in strengthening the country’s clean power infrastructure. The line, built by POWERGRID’s subsidiary POWERGRID Khavda II-C Transmission Limited, began commercial operations on January 31, 2026, with formal notification of its commissioning on February 2, 2026.

The new transmission corridor is designed to evacuate renewable energy generated at Khavda Pooling Station under Phase-II, Part C, helping ensure that large volumes of wind and solar power can be transferred reliably across regions and integrated into India’s wider electricity network. This upgrade is expected to support the continued expansion of renewable generation capacity by reducing bottlenecks that can limit how much clean energy reaches consumers.

Officials said the project was executed through a tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) process, which helps reduce upfront costs and attract private investment into transmission infrastructure. With this commissioning, POWERGRID reinforces its role in building the backbone needed to support India’s transition to a cleaner and more sustainable power system as renewable capacity rises nationwide.

Analysts note that expanding transmission networks like this one is critical to minimising renewable energy curtailment and enabling the efficient delivery of clean power from generation hubs to demand centres across the country. Efficient evacuation infrastructure is seen as a key enabler for India to achieve its long-term renewable targets and meet growing electricity needs while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.