Grid violation mismanagement imperils India's energy shift: NREL
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Grid violation mismanagement imperils India's energy shift: NREL

The US-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has stated that India's power system must safely and successfully speed up the adoption of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like solar, storage, and electric vehicles in order to achieve its climate and energy objectives.

According to NREL, the increased integration of DERs will help reduce the country's emissions and decrease costs for customers, while also enhancing the reliability of the system and creating economic opportunities for India's private sector.

NREL highlights that as more DERs are introduced, the state utilities responsible for managing India's grid must deal with potential impacts such as voltage violations and shifts in demand on the country's medium- and low-voltage distribution networks. Failing to address these changes and risks could impede the deployment of DERs and other renewable energy technologies, thereby slowing down India's overall energy transition.

Given India's aim to significantly increase wind and solar generation capacity by 2030, it is vital to monitor how the distribution system (which encompasses small-scale wind and solar generation connected to the distribution system) interacts with and supports the Indian power grid. This monitoring will enable India to achieve levels where more than 20% of instantaneous electricity generation online is supplied by DERs. Furthermore, it is anticipated that DER systems will affect the performance, reliability, and stability of the bulk power system, emphasizing the importance of well-designed, locally appropriate interconnection standards.

In response to these challenges, last year, India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission introduced regulations to restrict frequency fluctuations within the operating band to safeguard grid security.

NREL has previously assisted the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in adopting the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1547-2018 standard in 2023. Although this represents a significant step forward, the requirements of this standard have yet to be integrated into India's grid code. NREL has provided several recommendations for seamless DER integration.

The US-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has stated that India's power system must safely and successfully speed up the adoption of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like solar, storage, and electric vehicles in order to achieve its climate and energy objectives. According to NREL, the increased integration of DERs will help reduce the country's emissions and decrease costs for customers, while also enhancing the reliability of the system and creating economic opportunities for India's private sector. NREL highlights that as more DERs are introduced, the state utilities responsible for managing India's grid must deal with potential impacts such as voltage violations and shifts in demand on the country's medium- and low-voltage distribution networks. Failing to address these changes and risks could impede the deployment of DERs and other renewable energy technologies, thereby slowing down India's overall energy transition. Given India's aim to significantly increase wind and solar generation capacity by 2030, it is vital to monitor how the distribution system (which encompasses small-scale wind and solar generation connected to the distribution system) interacts with and supports the Indian power grid. This monitoring will enable India to achieve levels where more than 20% of instantaneous electricity generation online is supplied by DERs. Furthermore, it is anticipated that DER systems will affect the performance, reliability, and stability of the bulk power system, emphasizing the importance of well-designed, locally appropriate interconnection standards. In response to these challenges, last year, India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission introduced regulations to restrict frequency fluctuations within the operating band to safeguard grid security. NREL has previously assisted the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in adopting the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1547-2018 standard in 2023. Although this represents a significant step forward, the requirements of this standard have yet to be integrated into India's grid code. NREL has provided several recommendations for seamless DER integration.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Aadhaar Authentications Cross 27 Billion in FY25

Aadhaar authentication transactions surged past 27.07 billion in FY 2024–25, including 2.47 billion in March alone, reflecting its growing adoption across sectors such as banking, finance, telecom, and public service delivery. Since its inception, the cumulative number of Aadhaar authentication transactions has exceeded 148 billion.The Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) AI/ML-based face authentication technology is also witnessing a sharp rise in usage. In March 2025 alone, over 150 million face authentication transactions were recorded. This biometric modality is now used ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

IEPFA Holds Preparatory Meet for 'Niveshak Shivir' Initiative

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, hosted a preparatory meeting on April 28, 2025, with Nodal Officers from stakeholder companies via video conference. The session, chaired by IEPFA CEO Smt. Anita Shah Akella, focused on finalising operational plans for the upcoming ""Niveshak Shivir"" initiative—a joint effort between IEPFA and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).""Niveshak Shivir"" aims to improve investor services and streamline the claims process by reaching out to cities with a high nu..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India, France Sign Deal for 26 Rafale-Marine Jets for Navy

India and France have signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy, comprising 22 single-seater and four twin-seater jets. The deal also includes training systems, simulators, associated equipment, weapons, and performance-based logistics, along with additional equipment for the Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet.The IGA was signed by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu. The agreement, along with supply protocols for aircraft and weapons, was exchanged in the..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?