The Central Electrical energy Authority (CEA) has proposed a big change to the technical requirements governing renewable power tasks, together with obligatory co-located power storage techniques (ESS) for brand spanking new ground-mounted photo voltaic and onshore wind tasks commissioned from July 2027.
Below the draft Central Electrical energy Authority (Technical Requirements for Building of Electrical Vegetation and Electrical Strains) 2nd Modification Laws, 2026, renewable power energy vegetation commissioned after July 1, 2027 would even be required to have at the least 15% of their inverters outfitted with grid-forming management. As well as, all energy conversion techniques (PCS) utilized in battery power storage techniques would wish to have grid-forming functionality.Â
The extra important requirement is geared toward ground-mounted photo voltaic and onshore wind tasks. Initiatives commissioned after July 1, 2027 must be outfitted with a co-located ESS with a minimal two-hour storage period and capability equal to at the least 10% of the plant’s put in capability. For instance, beneath the proposed framework, a 100 MW photo voltaic or wind venture would wish at the least **10 MW of storage for 2 hours**.
Storage requirement to turn out to be extra stringent after 2029
The draft proposes an extra improve in storage period for tasks commissioned after July 1, 2029, and as much as June 30, 2031. Such ground-mounted photo voltaic and onshore wind tasks could be required to put in co-located ESS with a minimal four-hour storage period, whereas retaining the requirement that storage capability ought to equal at the least 10% of the plant’s put in capability.Â
Thus, a 100 MW venture commissioned throughout this era would wish at the least 10 MW/40 MWh of storage, in contrast with 10 MW/20 MWh for tasks commissioned from July 2027 beneath the primary part.
Grid-forming functionality takes centre stage
The proposal additionally alerts a larger emphasis on grid-forming know-how as India’s energy system absorbs rising volumes of renewable era. The draft requires at the least 15% of inverters in renewable power vegetation commissioned after July 1, 2027 to have grid-forming management, whereas all PCS of battery power storage techniques would wish to include grid-forming management to fulfill the technical necessities beneath the CEA’s grid connectivity rules.Â
The CEA has additionally retained flexibility to vary the required proportion of grid-forming functionality or ESS capability sooner or later, with the draft stating that such modifications could also be notified by the Authority infrequently.Â
Public feedback invited
The CEA issued the draft notification on September 3, 2026, beneath Part 177 of the Electrical energy Act, 2003. The authority mentioned the draft rules can be thought-about after the expiry of 30 days from the date the notification is made obtainable to the general public. Stakeholders and members of the general public have been invited to submit feedback by October 4, 2026. If notified within the proposed kind, the modification would mark a significant shift in India’s technical necessities for brand spanking new utility-scale photo voltaic and wind capability, linking future renewable era extra intently with battery storage and grid-forming capabilities.
