Despite recorded solar adoption,why is it still facing power supply issues?

Despite record rooftop solar adoption under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, Kerala continues to face power shortages, particularly during evening peak hours.

Kerala’s Solar Success

• Kerala’s installed solar capacity reached 2,508 MW by May 2026.
• Rooftop solar accounts for nearly 2,036 MW of this capacity.
• Under PM Surya Ghar Yojana, Kerala recorded around 2.96 lakh installations, covering over 3.03 lakh households.
• The scheme has added approximately 1,150 MW of capacity in the State.
• Solar power constitutes more than 50% of Kerala’s total installed power capacity.

Kerala’s Power Demand

• Kerala’s daily electricity consumption is approximately 88.45 million units.
• Domestic generation from hydro, solar and wind sources is only around 15 million units.
• Nearly 83% of the State’s daily demand is met through purchases from power exchanges.
• Around 75% of consumers are domestic, while industrial and commercial connections constitute only about 20%.

Why Power Cuts Continue

• Solar power is generated mainly during the daytime, while Kerala’s peak demand occurs between 6 pm and 11 pm.
• This creates a mismatch between the time of electricity generation and the time of maximum consumption.
• Excess daytime solar power is exported to the grid, but adequate electricity may not be available during the evening.
• When national market supply declines at night, Kerala must purchase electricity at higher prices.
• Thus, high installed solar capacity does not automatically ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

Grid-Related Challenges

• Excessive daytime injection of rooftop solar power can increase voltage in the low-tension distribution network.
• Voltage fluctuations may damage electrical appliances and distribution transformers.
• Rising renewable-energy capacity further increases the need for grid balancing and storage infrastructure.

Way Forward

• Develop Battery Energy Storage Systems to store surplus daytime solar power for use during evening peak hours.
• Promote household and grid-scale battery storage alongside rooftop solar expansion.
• Introduce time-of-day tariffs and demand-response mechanisms to shift electricity use towards daytime.
• Strengthen transmission and distribution networks to manage variable renewable energy.
• Improve renewable-energy forecasting and integrate solar with hydroelectric generation.

Kerala’s problem is not a shortage of installed solar capacity, but the absence of adequate energy storage and the mismatch between daytime generation and nighttime demand.