New Delhi, Sept. 30 -- The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Rs 1.86 lakh crore Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme to build transmission infrastructure for evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable power and deploy 50 GWh of battery storage, as India prepares its grid for a sharp expansion in non-fossil energy capacity.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, said adequate transmission capacity would be critical as renewable generation rises, with the government seeking to ensure that grid infrastructure comes up ahead of new renewable projects.

A presentation made during the briefing said that without adequate transmission infrastructure, renewable power could face curtailment, and st...