Ep. 44: Wind and Solar Are Rising; Udayan Nair on What It Means for the Grid

Wind and solar resources are providing more clean, low-cost electricity to the grid than ever before, but the intermittent nature of renewable generation requires careful planning. In the latest episode of the Power Trends podcast, NYISO Director of Grid Transition Udayan Nair breaks down what the latest data reveals about wind and solar performance, and what it means for reliability in New York as electricity demand continues to grow.Notably, the electric grid has seen remarkable growth in behind-the-meter solar capacity in recent years, surpassing the solar goal in the state’s Climate Leadership Community Protection Act (CLCPA).“We had a goal in CLCPA to reach 6000 megawatts by 2025,” Nair said. “We were at over 6,800 megawatts of capacity last year and it’s grown by about 1,000 megawatts per year since 2020. That's a remarkable success in terms of the capacity that has been added to the grid.”Front-of-the-meter solar, which refers to grid-connected solar installments that participate in the NYISO’s energy markets, has also seen increased capacity in recent years. While no new wind installments were added in 2025, existing units performed better than usual due to stronger wind patterns, Nair said. Nair discussed factors that contribute to renewable performance, including seasonal weather, demand patterns, and curtailments. He explained why solar and wind must be paired with transmission, storage, and flexible resources to keep the grid reliable, particularly during summer heat waves and winter cold snaps. The latest renewables data showcases the growing contribution of renewables in the current fuel mix and underscores the need for an all-of-the-above approach to development as New York’s electric system continues to evolve. More resources: View the 2025 Renewables Report.Learn MoreFollow us on X/Twitter @NewYorkISO, LinkedIn @NYISO, Bluesky @nyiso.comRead our blogs and watch our videos