CEA proposes mandatory storage for solar, wind projects
Govt proposes phased storage mandate for brand spanking new photo voltaic, wind initiatives from 2027, beginning at 10% capability with two-hour length. (AI-generated picture)

NEW DELHI: New photo voltaic and wind energy initiatives could have to put in battery storage alongside era capability from 2027, with govt proposing a phased storage requirement as a part of revised technical requirements for renewable vitality crops.Below the draft laws issued by the Central Electrical energy Authority (CEA) on Thursday, ground-mounted photo voltaic and onshore wind initiatives commissioned after July 1, 2027 should set up co-located vitality storage equal to not less than 10% of their put in capability, with a minimal storage length of two hours.This implies a 100 MW photo voltaic plant would wish not less than 10 MW of storage capability able to storing electrical energy for 2 hours, or 20 MWh.The requirement will turn out to be extra stringent for initiatives commissioned after July 1, 2029 and as much as June 30, 2031. Such initiatives should present storage equal to 10% of put in capability however with a minimal length of 4 hours. A 100 MW plant would due to this fact require 10 MW/40 MWh of storage.The transfer comes because the share of renewable vitality within the energy combine rises and the grid more and more has to handle fluctuations in photo voltaic and wind era. Whereas there’s ample renewable era throughout photo voltaic hours, it might result in curtailment because of inadequate evacuation capability. Storage will enable surplus electrical energy to be saved and used throughout non-solar hours.Greater than 8,133 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of photo voltaic vitality – equal to 1.5 days of the complete nation’s complete energy consumption or sufficient to energy practically 1.4 million properties for a complete yr – was curtailed in the course of the first quarter of the continued monetary yr because the grid couldn’t soak up extra provide throughout daytime. “Giant-scale deployment of battery vitality storage methods and grid-forming inverters are essential for integrating renewable vitality into the grid,” stated a brand new and renewable vitality ministry official.The CEA has additionally proposed that renewable vitality crops commissioned after July 1, 2027 have not less than 15% of their inverters outfitted with grid-forming management. All energy conversion methods of battery vitality storage methods may also need to have grid-forming functionality.