The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued a stern warning to renewable energy projects in India. The regulator has cautioned that repeated failure to comply with technical standards, such as low-voltage and high-voltage ride-through norms, could result in disconnection from the national grid.
The directive stems from grid security concerns raised by the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC), demanding stricter enforcement to safeguard the stability of the power system amid the rapid integration of intermittent green energy. The action underscores growing regulatory concerns over grid security and stability as India rapidly integrates large volumes of intermittent solar and wind capacity to meet its ambitious 2030 clean energy targets. The Commission emphasized that stability cannot be compromised by the failures of individual generators.
The technical failure: ride-through norms
The crackdown stems from a petition filed by the NRLDC, highlighting repeated technical violations by solar and wind plants. Specifically, CERC cited persistent non-compliance with low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) and high-voltage ride-through (HVRT) norms. These are critical grid safety requirements that mandate generators must stay connected during sudden voltage dips or spikes caused by system faults, instead of tripping offline. Repeated failures to adhere to these norms have been linked to generation losses and detrimental frequency dips, which can severely compromise the stability of the entire grid. The regulator noted that despite multiple reminders and meetings, only a minimal number of projects have achieved full compliance.
The enforcement directive and next steps:
To address these critical lapses, CERC has directed the NRLDC and the Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL) to hold a high-level meeting. The primary mandate of this directive is to devise a formal and strict procedure to address persistent violations, including the ultimate punitive measure of disconnection of generators that fail to comply.
Furthermore, the regulator has demanded a fresh, detailed compliance review and mandatory self-audit reports from all renewable generators, along with comprehensive reporting on grid events and non-compliance rates. This marks a significant regulatory push to ensure that the expansion of green energy is paralleled by robust technical adherence to grid codes, safeguarding the reliability of the national power system.
