As the grid becomes increasingly dynamic with large-scale renewable energy integration, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and inverter-based resources (IBRs), modernising grid connectivity standards is becoming increasingly important. In line with this, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed the draft CEA (Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid) Regulations, 2026, under Section 177 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The draft represents a comprehensive overhaul of the existing CEA (Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid) Regulations, 2007, and their amendments. The aim of the draft is to establish a future-ready and technology-neutral technical framework for integrating conventional generation, renewable energy, BESS, IBRs, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), transmission utilities and bulk consumers.
By establishing these standards, the draft regulations aim to strengthen grid reliability, standardise connectivity requirements and align with evolving needs of the power system. The proposed framework introduces comprehensive technical requirements for integrating new and emerging technologies into the grid.
Background
India’s power system is evolving rapidly, with renewable energy, battery storage, hybrid projects, IBRs, HVDC systems and advanced power technologies becoming increasingly important. This transformation is also changing the technical requirements for maintaining grid stability, voltage and frequency control, fault ride-through and system restoration. The Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid Regulations, 2007, amended in 2013 and 2019, have provided the connectivity framework for nearly two decades.
The draft addresses these changes by broadening connectivity requirements for emerging technologies and large consumers. It introduces specific provisions for IBRs, BESS, pumped storage plants, hybrid generating stations, co-located projects, grid-forming inverters and fast frequency response, among other technologies that have become increasingly relevant to the power system. By setting out specific technical requirements for these resources, the draft provides greater clarity on the standards that new projects will need to meet.
Further, the proposed framework focuses not only on connecting assets to the grid but also on their ability to operate reliably, respond to disturbances and support overall grid stability, security and resilience. This represents a broader shift in the approach to grid connectivity, with greater emphasis on how connected resources perform once they are part of the system.
Connectivity requirements
Under the proposed framework, users and connectivity applicants are responsible for the planning, design, construction, reliability, protection and safe operation of their facilities. New connections are required to comply with technical requirements so that they do not compromise grid reliability, security or power quality. Each connection point is required to have a site responsibility schedule defining ownership and responsibilities for the control, operation, maintenance and safety of equipment. Site common drawings and single-line diagrams also need to be maintained and made available to the concerned transmission utility, licensee and load despatch centre. Entities are also required to register on the CEA e-GEN portal and submit the prescribed technical documents, including single-line diagrams.
The draft also gives greater attention to the digital systems that support grid operations. In addition to physical connectivity requirements, it incorporates provisions relating to cybersecurity, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), energy management systems (EMS), automatic generation control (AGC), event logging, telemetry and communication systems. These requirements reflect the increasing role of digital monitoring and control in the operation of grid-connected facilities.
The CEA has proposed a connectivity process covering application, technical studies, equipment data submission, model validation, commissioning and trial operation before final grid connectivity. The concerned transmission utility or distribution licensee is responsible for verifying compliance with the prescribed technical standards before granting connectivity.
Generators, BESS and grid-forming controls
The draft sets out detailed technical requirements for synchronous and asynchronous generating units, as well as energy storage systems (ESS). Generating units are required to maintain specified active and reactive power capabilities across defined voltage and frequency ranges. The performance expectations for connected facilities have also been strengthened in view of the increasing penetration of renewable energy. They must also meet low-voltage ride-through, high-voltage ride-through and multiple fault ride-through requirements to remain connected during grid disturbances. Asynchronous generating units are required to provide fast reactive current support within 30 milliseconds.
Taken together, these requirements raise the performance expectations for grid-connected generating facilities. The objective is not only to ensure that plants remain connected during disturbances, but also that they respond appropriately under abnormal operating conditions and help maintain system stability.
The framework also provides specific provisions for emerging energy storage technologies. As renewable generation increases, BESS and pumped storage can provide flexibility and support the system under changing generation and grid conditions. Standalone BESS of 50 MW and above are required to have black-start capability. BESS and pumped storage plants are also recognised as independent grid resources, with separate technical definitions and performance requirements rather than being treated merely as extensions of renewable energy generation.
Among the key proposals, the CEA has introduced a dedicated provision for grid-forming controls. As the share of inverter-based generation increases, grid-forming technology can provide capabilities traditionally associated with synchronous machines, including rapid voltage and frequency support. Under the draft regulation, generating stations equipped with grid-forming controls would be required to comply with all technical requirements applicable to asynchronous generating stations while also providing near-instantaneous voltage and frequency support independently through their converter controls. The proposed requirements focus on maintaining the internal voltage phasor during sub-transient conditions by using the available converter current capacity. Grid-forming generating stations are also proposed to support seamless transitions between grid-connected, islanded operations and stable reconnection to the main grid.
HVDC and FACTS
For HVDC and FACTS systems, the proposed standards specify requirements related to reactive power, active power control, power reversal and damping of sub-synchronous torsional interactions. They must withstand transient faults, recover quickly from disturbances and operate within specified short-circuit and network conditions. The systems must also include control and protection replica systems, active filtering for harmonics and undergo third-party performance testing and system studies before grid connection.
The CEA has proposed a minimum dynamic reactive power capability of 32.87 per cent of rated capacity for HVDC systems. Voltage source converter-based HVDC systems must provide power reversal capability, while line commutated converter-based systems must complete power reversal within 60 minutes. The draft also mandates power oscillation damping functionality and synthetic inertia capability for HVDC systems to support grid stability under low-inertia operating conditions.
Bulk consumers
As large consumers increasingly use inverter-based equipment, their electrical characteristics can also affect voltage, frequency and power quality. Hence, the proposed regulations also extend technical compliance requirements to inverter-interfaced bulk consumers with connected loads of 50 MW and above. These consumers are required to meet specified voltage and frequency ride-through requirements, along with standards for phase-angle changes.
Power quality
The proposed framework introduces specific power quality requirements to ensure that generating facilities do not adversely affect grid performance at the point of interconnection (PoI). Users/requesters need to design and operate their facilities within prescribed limits for harmonic distortion, voltage unbalance, flicker and DC current injection. The draft proposes a voltage unbalance limit of 3 per cent at 33 kV and above, harmonic distortion limits aligned with IEEE 519, repetitive step voltage fluctuations capped at 1.5 per cent, and DC current injection below 0.5 per cent.
Conclusion
In essence, the draft regulations seek to ensure that India’s renewable energy ambitions are accompanied by the technical capabilities needed to maintain system reliability and power quality.
The draft expands the scope to explicitly cover IBRs, BESS, pumped storage, hybrid and co-located projects, grid-forming inverters and fast frequency response. It also raises performance expectations through requirements for low-voltage ride-through, high-voltage ride-through, multiple fault ride-through, frequency ride-through, reactive power and voltage support, requiring connected resources to remain operational and support the grid during disturbances. Energy storage receives dedicated regulatory recognition, reflecting its growing role in flexibility and balancing renewable generation.
The proposed standards could also influence how projects are planned and developed. Developers and equipment suppliers would need to consider the prescribed technical requirements while selecting equipment and control systems, carrying out grid studies and preparing projects for testing and commissioning. Therefore, grid compliance would need to be considered during project development rather than only at the final stage of obtaining connectivity. As India accelerates towards its clean energy targets, maintaining grid stability, reliability and power quality becomes increasingly critical. These proposed regulations will help renewable energy plants behave more like conventional power plants during grid disturbances, ensuring a stronger and more resilient electricity network. Going forward, the proposed regulations shift the focus from simply connecting generation capacity to ensuring that every connected facility can operate reliably, respond to system disturbances and contribute to the stability, resilience and security of the wider power system.
Akanksha Chandrakar and Khushi Rohatgi
