India Cancels Grid Access for 17 GW of Delayed Clean Energy Projects

India has revoked grid access for nearly 17 gigawatts (GW) of delayed clean energy projects to prioritise connections for operational or near-completion plants. The decision affects companies such as Adani Green Energy, ReNew Power, NTPC, Avaada Group, JSW Energy, and ACME Solar. The affected projects are primarily in renewable energy hubs like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The cancellations follow prior notices and manual inspections by the Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL), aimed at improving grid efficiency amid rising power demand from industrialisation, urbanisation, and agricultural growth. The move aligns with India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, though grid infrastructure expansion continues to lag generation capacity. The affected companies are seeking relief from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), but interim relief requests have been declined. India recently introduced stricter rules to prevent misuse of grid access, mandating that developers retain control until commissioning, with penalties for violations including forfeiture of guarantees and connectivity revocation.