India has approved a major investment programme to strengthen its electricity transmission infrastructure and expand battery energy storage capacity, supporting the country’s growing renewable energy deployment.

The Union Cabinet approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) programme with a total outlay of approximately ₹1.864 lakh crore (about $19.4 billion). The programme is designed to strengthen intra-state transmission systems and improve the integration of renewable power into the national electricity network.

The initiative includes around ₹1.363 lakh crore for intra-state transmission infrastructure. The planned network is expected to enable the evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable energy capacity, helping states accommodate increasing volumes of solar and wind power.

A further ₹50,000 crore has been allocated within the programme for the development of 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Energy storage can help manage fluctuations in renewable generation and shift electricity availability to periods of higher demand.

The programme will be implemented through FY 2032–33, with the central government providing approximately ₹54,082 crore in financial support. The remaining investment is expected to come through participating state transmission utilities and other financing mechanisms.

The expansion of transmission and storage infrastructure is increasingly important as India adds large volumes of variable renewable generation. Stronger grid infrastructure can help reduce transmission constraints, improve renewable power evacuation and support greater integration of clean electricity into the power system.

The programme also supports India’s broader clean-energy transition by addressing two critical requirements for renewable expansion: moving electricity from generation centres to demand centres and storing power when renewable generation exceeds immediate demand.

With implementation extending into 2032–33, the initiative represents a significant step toward building the infrastructure needed to support India’s growing renewable energy capacity and a more flexible electricity system.