GEC-III scheme to unlock next growth phase for India renewables sector

New Delhi: The GEC-III scheme will not only focus on grid reliability and reducing curtailment but also give the market greater visibility that transmission investment must keep pace with India's large renewable and electricity-demand ambitions, according to industry experts.

Industry members also said the scheme, which includes transmission and storage, will unlock a new cycle of growth for the renewable sector.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 1.86 lakh crore GEC-III Scheme to set up an intra-state transmission system with 50 GWh battery storage to evacuate 135 GW of renewable energy up to FY2032-33.


Avaada Group Chairman Vineet Mittal said that for India, the opportunity is to develop the capability to design, manufacture, install and maintain these systems at scale. That means investing in quality, engineering, skilled people and sustained innovation.

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Premier Energies Chief Business Officer Vinay Rustagi said lack of new transmission capacity is delaying the addition of renewable capacity and is one of the biggest industry concerns today. This scheme, combining 50 GWh storage capacity and total government funding of Rs 54,000 crore, is expected to unlock a new cycle of growth for the renewable sector.

Somesh Kumar, Partner, Leader of Power & Utilities, EY India, said the third phase of Green Energy Corridor (GEC-III) also provides greater visibility to the market that transmission investment will need to keep pace with India's very large renewable and electricity-demand ambitions.

Sunkind India MD Hanish Gupta said the focus on transmission and battery storage by the government will help accelerate renewable energy deployment and strengthen grid reliability.

Volks Energie CEO Piyush Goyal said generation capacity has been growing faster than the grid's ability to carry it, and curtailment has been the quiet cost. Putting 50 GWh of battery storage at the generator-end addresses that directly.

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EKI Energy CMD Manish Dabkara shared that the initiative also strengthens the base for India's domestic carbon market, because credible credits depend on clean power that actually reaches the grid.