The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued draft regulations under Electricity Act, 2003, to propose an overhaul of grid connectivity standards, establishing an updated framework for renewable energy plants, energy storage systems, transmission utilities, and bulk power consumers operating at 33 kV and above.
The issued draft will replace the existing 2007 regulations following stakeholder consultations. Feedbacks have been invited until September 2, 2026.
The regulations introduce detailed technical requirements for inverter-based resources (IBR), including solar photovoltaic plants, wind farms, hybrid projects and energy storage systems which will expand the reach of the connectivity framework. The draft also set new technical standards across co-located generation, synchronous condensers, HVDC systems and inverter-interfaced bulk consumers.
The draft also states that users applying for new grid connectivity will have to make sure that their facilities do not damage grid reliability, security and power quality. Developers will hold responsibilities across planning, designing, constructing and operating their equipment to ensure all prescribed technical requirements and grid performance standards are met.
Moreover, one of the central proposals introduces a detailed standard for renewable energy plants and energy storage systems during grid disturbances. The regulations enforce Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT), High Voltage Ride Through (HVRT) and Multiple Fault Ride Through (MFRT) capabilities to guarantee that generating stations remain connected during voltage fluctuations instead of tripping offline. Additionally, distinct performance curves and response criteria are defined for synchronous versus asynchronous generating units.
The issued draft regulations also mentions the need for inverter-based renewable energy plants to provide support across dynamic reactive power support, configurable voltage ride-through settings and fast reactive current injection during grid disturbances. By default, these facilities are required to operate reactive current priority mode during voltage events, although active power restore to a minimum of 90% of pre-fault levels within one second after voltage normalizes.
CEA has also recommended for asynchronous generating stations being equipped enough for continuous operation within a voltage range of 0.9 per unit to 1.1 per unit and maintains stability even at lower short-circuit ratios, subject to specified limits. The draft also suggests response times of up to 30 milliseconds for reactive current injection during voltage disturbances for most inverter-based plants.
Meanwhile, the draft regulations uphold strict standards for conventional generating stations, across active power capability, reactive power support, frequency response and automatic voltage regulation. The generating stations of 100 MW and above must accept remote active and reactive power control signals from Load Despatch Centres and all generating units will be required to install electronically controlled governors to manage frequency regulation.
