India’s energy needs are growing rapidly. As the economy expands — with 7.8% real GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026-27 — so does demand for electricity from factories, businesses, and households. In the first half of this year alone, electricity demand grew by 6%. By 2035-36, demand could reach 459 gigawatts, according to the Central Electricity Authority.

At the same time, renewable energy has moved from the margins of India’s power system to its centre. This reflects a long-term strategy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pursued since his years as chief minister of Gujarat, where he placed an early emphasis on solar energy, and transmission has been a central part of it.

India is developing a Green Energy Corridor to connect renewable-rich regions with centres of energy consumption. Its recently announced third phase, a $19.3-billion investment in storage and transmission infrastructure, will help integrate another 135 GW of renewable energy capacity into the grid. The need for it is already clear.

Last May, as temperatures soared across northern and central India, the country’s peak........

© hindustantimes