India proposes 10% storage requirement for new solar and wind

Projects commissioned after July 2027 would need two-hour storage capacity.

New ground-mounted solar and onshore wind power plants in India would need energy storage equal to at least 10% of installed capacity for a minimum of two hours under draft rules proposed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The requirement would apply to plants commissioned after 1 July 2027.

For projects commissioned after 1 July 2029 and up to 30 June 2031, the minimum storage duration would increase to four hours, whilst the capacity requirement would remain at 10%.

For a 100-megawatt (MW) solar plant, the draft sets a minimum storage requirement of 10 MW for two hours under the first phase, rising to 10 MW for four hours under the second phase.

The CEA also proposed grid-forming requirements for renewable energy power plants commissioned after 1 July 2027.

At least 15% of inverters would need grid-forming control, whilst all power conversion systems of battery energy storage systems would need the capability.

The proposed requirements form part of amendments to the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electric Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations.

The amendments would require renewable energy plants to comply with technical requirements under the CEA’s grid connectivity regulations.

The authority said it may change the required percentage of grid-forming capability or energy storage capacity through future notifications.

The CEA published the draft regulations on 3 September and said it would consider them after 30 days from the date the notification is made available to the public.

It invited objections and suggestions during the period.