New Delhi, Oct. 1 -- The Union Cabinet approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) scheme on Wednesday, a large programme aimed at reinforcing India's Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) so that it can evacuate up to 135 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy across states and Union territories.

The scheme also provides for 50 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), to be deployed either at the premises of renewable energy developers and generators or at other locations considered important for grid flexibility.

The government said this is needed because solar and wind power do not flow steadily. Solar panels work only when the sun shines, and wind depends on the weather. Often the power lines are too c...