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CEA Proposes 15 Percent Grid-Forming Inverters, 10 Percent ESS for New RE Projects from July 2027

The CEA has proposed requiring at least 15 percent of inverters in renewable energy plants and all BESS PCS to have grid-forming control for projects commissioned from July 1, 2027. It also proposed 10 percent co-located ESS with two-hour storage for ground-mounted solar and onshore wind projects from July 2027, rising to four hours from July 2029.

September 03, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey

The Central Electricity Authority has proposed requiring at least 15 percent grid-forming inverters and 10 percent co-located ESS with two-hour storage for ground-mounted solar and renewable projects commissioned from July 1, 2027, with the ESS duration increasing to four hours from July 1, 2029.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed amendments to Technical Standards for Construction of Electric Plants and Electric Lines that would require renewable energy power plants commissioned from July 1, 2027, to have at least 15 percent of inverters with grid-forming control.

In addition, all power conversion systems (PCS) of battery energy storage systems (BESS) would need to have grid-forming control to comply with the technical requirements specified under the CEA's grid connectivity regulations.

For ground-mounted solar and onshore wind projects commissioned after July 1, 2027, the draft proposes mandatory co-located energy storage systems (ESS) with a minimum storage duration of two hours and capacity equivalent to at least 10 percent of the installed plant capacity. For example, a 100 MW solar plant would require at least 10 MW of ESS with two hours of storage.

The proposed requirements would become more stringent for projects commissioned after July 1, 2029, and up to June 30, 2031. Such ground-mounted solar and onshore wind plants would need co-located ESS with a minimum storage duration of four hours, while the storage capacity would remain at 10 percent of the plant's installed capacity. Thus, a 100 MW project would require at least 10 MW of four-hour storage.

The draft also provides for flexibility in the future, stating that the CEA may notify changes to the percentage requirement for grid-forming capability or ESS capacity from time to time.

Stakeholders can submit suggestions, comments and objections to CEA by October 4, 2026.

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Policies & Regulations

Central Electricity Authority

CEA draft amendment

Grid forming inverters

Grid forming capability in BESS

Grid forming inverts in RE projects

ESS in solar and onshore wind projects