New CREA report highlights renewable curtailment during July–August
CREA’s report published on 12 October records approximately 1,835 million units of renewable electricity curtailed in July and August 2026. Its broader qua
CREA’s report published on 12 October records approximately 1,835 million units of renewable electricity curtailed in July and August 2026. Its broader quarterly review shows why expanding generation also requires attention to grid and operational constraints.
The dated report and its scope
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air published its Q2 FY2026–27 energy snapshot on 12 October. Its curtailment total combines 1,462 million units of solar generation with 373 million units of wind. These are historical July–August figures, not a reading of what is being curtailed today.
Reuters opened its independent coverage with nearly 1.8 billion units of curtailed renewable electricity and reported the transmission challenge. The agency’s solar-percentage figure refers specifically to solar generation, whereas the original report’s 1,835-million-unit total includes solar and wind. Those denominators must not be mixed.
More generation does not resolve every constraint
The primary review says quarterly electricity generation increased 11% year on year to 536 billion units. Solar generation grew 39%, while coal and lignite still accounted for about two-thirds of generation. It attributes continuing renewable curtailment to grid and operational constraints.
These figures describe different dimensions of an electricity system. Installed capacity measures potential output at a moment; energy generated over a period measures accumulated output. A growing renewable fleet therefore does not, by itself, establish that every unit it could generate can be delivered when required.
How to interpret the finding
Curtailment means potential electricity is not accepted or produced as planned under system constraints. It should not be imagined as energy stored in a warehouse and later thrown away. This distinction helps make the report understandable without changing its measurement period.
The report supports examining transmission, operating arrangements and the timing of supply alongside capacity additions. It does not establish a particular household’s outage duration or prove that one named power plant caused a local interruption. When comparing future editions, use the same months, source categories and units, and distinguish measured history from planned infrastructure.
Publication disclosure
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Frequently asked questions
Does 1,835 million units mean today’s losses?
No. The report assigns that total to July and August 2026.
Is the total entirely solar?
No. CREA splits it into 1,462 million units of solar and 373 million units of wind.