India's Evening Power Deficit Persists Despite Record Solar Capacity Growth

India added a record amount of solar capacity in 2025, yet the country continues to face a power deficit during evening peak hours. According to a report by MarketScale, the gap between electricity demand and supply widens after sunset, when solar farms stop generating and homes and businesses switch on lights and air conditioners.

The evening peak, typically between 6 pm and 10 pm, has become the toughest test for the grid. Solar panels produce no power at night, and while battery storage is growing, it's still far from enough to cover the shortfall. The result: utilities fire up older coal plants or buy expensive power from the spot market to avoid blackouts.

"The evening peak is the new challenge," said a power sector analyst who asked not to be named. "We've added solar at a breakneck pace, but we haven't added enough storage or flexible generation to match."

Government data shows that India's peak demand touched a new high in the summer of 2025, and the deficit during evening hours was the largest in five years. The problem is not unique to India, California and Germany face similar "duck curve" issues, but India's scale makes it more acute.

Coal still provides the bulk of India's electricity, and many plants run at low capacity during the day because solar is cheaper. At night, they ramp up, but aging units often break down or run inefficiently. Hydropower helps, but its output varies with the monsoon.

Battery storage is seen as a key solution. India has tendered several large battery projects, and the government offers subsidies for storage. But progress is slow. As of early 2026, installed battery capacity was less than 1 gigawatt, a fraction of what's needed.

"We need to think of the grid as a system, not just megawatts of solar," said a senior official at the Ministry of Power, who was not authorized to speak to the media. "Storage, demand response, and grid upgrades all have to come together."

Some states have started time-of-day tariffs to encourage consumers to shift usage. Others are experimenting with pumped hydro. But these measures take time.

For now, the evening deficit persists. It's a reminder that adding solar is only half the battle. The other half is making sure the power is there when the sun goes down.