India is intensifying its efforts to enhance weather forecasting accuracy as the nation deepens its commitment to renewable energy, a senior government official revealed on Friday.
At the BloombergNEF Summit on green energy, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chair Ghanshyam Prasad explained that solar and wind energy require highly localized forecasts. Traditional state-wide or regional predictions are no longer sufficient to match the needs of power generation.
He stressed the need for “granular forecasts,” with the ability to track cloud movements at specific sites. This precision is vital since India’s current forecasting resolution lags behind the power grid’s 15-minute operating cycles, where conditions change quickly.
The government’s objective is to improve resolution to the smallest possible distances. This would ensure that renewable energy supply better aligns with grid operations, avoiding instability or energy shortfalls.
In addition to short-term forecasting, India is also focusing on long-term predictive tools. Prasad noted that while no country currently possesses multi-year weather visibility, India aims to build systems that can provide at least partial forecasts over extended horizons.
Such advancements are seen as critical for maintaining power sector stability as renewable dependence grows. Without better forecasting, Prasad cautioned, the power sector could struggle to sustain itself amid rising green energy integration.
New Delhi has already adjusted its grid management, curbing solar and coal generation during low-demand periods to prevent congestion as renewable output climbs. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy confirmed these measures earlier this week.
India added a record 22 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity in the first half of 2025. The country also remains on track to raise its non-fossil fuel capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030.
To better capture these dynamics, the CEA is moving from a five-year planning cycle to an annual model. According to Prasad, this shift will allow forecasts and strategies to be updated more frequently.
Together, these reforms highlight India’s determination to secure a reliable energy future while steering its power system toward a greener, more sustainable path.