Draft National Electricity Transmission Plan: Call for urgent rethink towards green, decentralized energy future

By A Representative 

In a detailed and critical response to the Draft National Electricity Plan (Volume II – Transmission) released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), veteran power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has raised serious concerns about what he calls an “unsustainable and ecologically damaging” approach to expanding India’s electricity transmission infrastructure.

Sharma’s feedback document challenges the current trajectory of the National Electricity Plan, warning that a business-as-usual (BAU) approach—focused on massive expansion of Extra High Voltage (EHV) and Ultra High Voltage (UHV) lines—will come at enormous social, environmental, and financial costs.

“The draft plan ignores the constitutional mandate to protect the environment,” Sharma writes, citing Articles 48A and 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution. “It is time we ask whether the continuous expansion of electricity infrastructure, without considering ecological and climate impacts, is truly in the national interest.”

Sharma warns that the projected increase in electricity demand—doubling every 8–10 years based on a 6.4% CAGR—will demand transmission expansions that threaten forests, agricultural land, and biodiversity hotspots. He cites examples of 400 kV transmission lines being planned through ecologically sensitive areas like the Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary and the Anshi Tiger Reserve. “There is a shocking disregard for environmental costs,” Sharma stated. “For instance, felling over 50,000 mature trees for a single power line to Kerala, when multiple lines already exist, is indefensible.”

One of Sharma’s central arguments is the underutilization of distributed renewable energy sources, particularly rooftop solar systems. He notes that India's rooftop solar potential alone is estimated at 650 GW, and the actual requirement for transmission lines could drastically reduce if this potential is tapped. “If rooftop solar and mini/micro grids are optimally utilized, many of the existing transmission lines may become redundant,” Sharma said. “Our policymakers are missing an opportunity to design a truly sustainable and decentralized power system.” He emphasized the growing global trend towards smart microgrids, citing developments in South Australia, the Indian Railways’ net-zero ambitions, and rural electrification models across Europe.

Sharma also highlighted the increasing vulnerability of centralized power grids to climate-related disasters such as heatwaves, storms, and floods. He cited blackouts in New Zealand, the U.S., and Brazil to argue that “highly integrated grids come with high systemic risks.” “Why must we continue building large, complex networks when smarter, localized systems can offer better reliability and lower risk?” Sharma questioned.

Sharma proposes a federated network of smart microgrids powered by rooftop solar, bioenergy, wind, and supported by battery storage systems (BESS). He called for a shift in planning focus—from transmission-heavy to distribution-focused strategies that enhance community resilience, reduce AT&C losses, and minimize ecological disruption. “Instead of pouring trillions into new transmission corridors, we should be investing in distributed energy systems and robust local grids,” Sharma urged.

In his critique, Sharma accuses the CEA of neglecting environmental priorities, ignoring the true implications of climate change, and failing to integrate the goals of the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF). “The plan seems divorced from the PM’s recent announcement to install rooftop solar on one crore homes,” Sharma wrote. “There is no serious assessment of the ecological costs, no mention of minimizing land diversion, and no strategy to decommission outdated lines.”

Shankar Sharma's submission calls for a fundamental rethinking of India’s transmission strategy—one that aligns with sustainability goals, promotes decentralized energy systems, and reduces the societal and ecological costs of energy infrastructure. “We need a different paradigm,” he concludes, “where generation, transmission, and distribution are planned holistically, with the environment and social equity at the center—not as afterthoughts.”

The CEA has yet to issue a response to the feedback received during the public consultation phase. With India aiming for a green transition, Sharma’s recommendations pose a crucial test for the future direction of the country’s energy policy.