Covering 10 to 16 January 2026. One major order from MNRE this week, a new wind task force, and two smaller items. Every item is checked against the issuing authority's own document.
1. MNRE treats Section 68 approval delays as force majeure
MNRE · 12 January 2026
Renewable energy implementing agencies must treat delays in approval under Section 68 of the Electricity Act for overhead transmission lines, caused by the Supreme Court case W.P.(C) 838/2019 (the Great Indian Bustard case), as akin to force majeure. The extension runs from the date of application, or 21 March 2024 if later, to 19 December 2025, the date of the final judgement. Intermediate milestones move accordingly.
Developers must apply with documentary evidence, and may pass the extension on to EPC contractors, suppliers and OEMs. The order does not apply to projects with a scheduled commissioning date before 21 March 2024, or to developers who had not applied for Section 68 approval before 19 December 2025. Overlaps with other extensions are deducted.
Why it matters for wind: Many wind and hybrid projects in Rajasthan and Gujarat were held up by the overhead line restrictions. This gives a clear route to relief from commissioning penalties, but only with evidence, so the document trail matters.
Source: MNRE order, 12 January 2026
2. Government sets up a task force on wind sector bottlenecks
Government of India · January 2026
PIB reports that a task force was constituted in January 2026 to address regulatory, land, transmission and implementation challenges in the wind sector.
Why it matters for wind: These are the issues that most often delay wind projects between award and commissioning. Any recommendations on land and transmission would feed directly into schedule and curtailment risk.
Source: PIB, Global Wind Day 2026 backgrounder
3. Ministry of Power amends RoW compensation guidelines for transmission lines
Ministry of Power · 16 January 2026
The Ministry amended its Supplementary Guidelines of 21 March 2025 on compensation for Right of Way for transmission lines. The amendment is recorded in MNRE's January digest. The Ministry's own link to the text was not available when this edition was checked.
Why it matters for wind: RoW compensation is a cost and schedule driver for evacuation lines, and evacuation delay feeds directly into commissioning risk and curtailment assumptions.
Source: MNRE Policy & Regulatory Updates, January 2026
4. CEA seeks comments on draft technology catalogue for storage and green fuels
CEA · 13 January 2026
Prepared under the India-Denmark energy collaboration, the draft catalogue gives standardised cost and performance data for energy storage and green fuels, for use in power system and planning models. Comments were due by 15 February 2026.
Why it matters for wind: Planning studies use these figures to decide how much storage the system needs. That shapes the case for wind paired with storage in firm and dispatchable (FDRE) and round-the-clock tenders.