India’s Central Electricity Authority has proposed phased battery-storage requirements for new ground-mounted solar and onshore wind projects. From July 1, 2027, qualifying projects would need co-located storage equal to at least 10% of installed capacity, with a minimum two-hour duration. The duration would rise to four hours for projects commissioned from July 2029 through June 2031. The proposal aims to improve renewable energy integration, reduce curtailment, and support grid stability.
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As the country works to manage the growing amount of renewable electricity entering its power grid, India is working on battery storage as a standard part of new solar and wind projects.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed a phased storage requirement for new ground-mounted solar and onshore wind projects, and the first rules are supposed to apply to projects commissioned from July 1, 2027.
As per the draft proposal, projects commissioned after July 1, 2027 would need co-located energy storage equal to at least 10% of their installed renewable capacity, with a minimum duration of two hours.
For example, a 100 MW solar project would need at least 10 MW of storage, capable of holding 20 MWh of electricity. The requirement would become more demanding for projects commissioned from July 1, 2029, through June 30, 2031, when the minimum storage duration would increase to four hours while retaining the 10% capacity requirement.
The proposed change comes as India’s renewable generation continues to grow faster than the grid’s ability to absorb and move electricity. Solar plants can produce large amounts of power during the middle of the day, while demand and available transmission capacity do not always match that output. When the grid cannot take the available electricity, generation may have to be curtailed.
Storing excess renewable electricity and discharging when required, especially during evening peak period, energy storage plays a vital role.
This would allow renewable projects to provide a more flexible supply instead of relying entirely on generation at the time when the sun is shining or wind conditions are favorable.
The CEA proposal also includes technical requirements aimed at improving grid stability. Renewable energy plants commissioned after July 1, 2027 would need at least 15% of their inverters to have grid-forming control, while battery storage power conversion systems would also need grid-forming capability.
For developers, the proposed rules could make battery storage an integral part of project planning rather than an optional addition. For the wider power system, the move reflects a shift from simply adding renewable generation toward ensuring that the electricity produced can be stored, transmitted, and used when it is needed.