Still curtailing clean megawatts at midday?

That is the energy equivalent of tossing out a fresh espresso because the cup is full. Across high-renewable regions, solar curtailment is spiking as transmission capacity and grid flexibility lag. The good news: battery energy storage systems and grid-aware EV charging are finally mature enough to turn that wasted sunshine into value.

The problem: too much solar, too little grid

Solar curtailment happens when projects are forced to dial back output because the grid cannot move or use the power. It is becoming common in places where renewables have scaled faster than transmission and flexibility. India’s Rajasthan is a textbook case.

• Rajasthan curtailed around 3 to 4 GW since March 2025, with peak curtailment exceeding 48 percent during sunny hours, driven by delayed transmission projects and congested lines, as noted in Down To Earth and Mercom India.
• The state has approved a ₹26,000 crore plan to add multiple 765 kV and 400 kV corridors to ease bottlenecks and revive renewable evacuation, per EQ Mag.
• In the U.S., utility-scale battery storage is surging, with cumulative capacity topping 26 GW by late 2024, per EIA Today in Energy. Q2 2025 set a new quarterly record with 5.6 GW installed across segments, according to American Clean Power. Storage growth is closely tied to reducing solar curtailment and flattening evening peaks.

The fix: BESS and grid-aware EV charging

BESS absorbs surplus solar at noon and discharges during the evening ramp, cutting curtailment while stacking revenues from energy shifting, capacity, and ancillary services. Smart EV charging turns flexible demand into a controllable grid resource.

• BESS captures surplus solar and shifts it to peak hours, while delivering ancillary services like frequency regulation and reserves, as outlined in Resources for the Future.
• Battery-buffered fast chargers in Austria are now technically qualified to provide ancillary services while delivering ultra-fast charging, per Energy-Storage.news. This is a blueprint for grid-aware charging that eases local congestion and monetizes flexibility.
• Paired with standards-compliant controls and aggregator platforms, EV charging can follow grid signals to avoid congested intervals and absorb curtailed solar. Combined with local storage, sites can offer peak shaving and frequency support, as demonstrated in this Austrian pilot.

Proof points to watch

• Rajasthan’s transmission build out is moving, but storage and flexible demand can reduce losses now while wires catch up, per Mercom India.
• U.S. utilities are pairing solar and storage at scale to soak up mid day generation and flatten evening ramps, with rapid capacity growth documented by EIA and ACP.
• Battery-buffered chargers are not just a demo. In Austria, Salzburg AG integrates fast charging stations with ancillary service markets, enabling dual use assets, per Automotive World.

How to unlock stranded clean power

• Co locate BESS at congested solar sites to absorb curtailment and deliver grid services.
• Deploy battery buffered fast charging at distribution pinch points to turn EV demand into a flexible resource.
• Enroll assets in ancillary services markets through aggregators to stack revenues.
• Use dynamic pricing and grid signals to schedule fleet charging in low congestion windows.
• Design hybrid solar plus storage interconnections to maximize deliverability.

The bottom line

Solar curtailment is a symptom of grid congestion and limited flexibility. BESS and smart EV charging are practical, proven tools to capture stranded electrons, ease bottlenecks, and monetize grid support. If you are curtailing at noon, it is time to add storage and make charging smarter.