New Delhi: The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed making energy storage systems mandatory for future renewable energy projects in a move aimed at improving the reliability and availability of clean power.Th…

New Delhi: The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed making energy storage systems mandatory for future renewable energy projects in a move aimed at improving the reliability and availability of clean power.The authority released the draft Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electric Plants and Electric Lines) 2nd Amendment, Regulations, 2026 on Thursday. Stakeholders and the public have been invited to submit feedback by October 4, 2026. Once finalised, the amendments will be notified and enforced by the CEA.India’s 7.7% growth proves resilience amid US-Iran conflict: CEAUnder the proposed rules, renewable energy power plants commissioned after July 1, 2027, must equip at least 15 per cent of their inverters with grid-forming control. All power conversion systems of battery energy storage systems will also be required to have grid-forming capabilities to meet technical standards.Ground-mounted solar and onshore wind plants commissioned after the same date will need co-located energy storage systems providing a minimum of two hours of storage capacity equal to at least 10 per cent of the plant’s installed capacity. For a 100 MW solar plant, this would mean a minimum 10 MW storage system lasting two hours.The requirements will tighten further for plants commissioned between July 1, 2029, and June 30, 2031. These projects must include co-located storage with a minimum four-hour duration at the same 10 per cent capacity threshold. A 100 MW plant would therefore require 10 MW of storage for four hours.The draft notes that the CEA may revise the percentages for grid-forming capabilities or storage capacity as needed through future notifications.The proposals come as India pursues its target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Officials see the measures as critical for integrating larger volumes of intermittent solar and wind power while maintaining grid stability.

Source: Deccan Herald