There is a structural change that is imminent in India’s power sector which might change the way renewable electricity is generated, stored and delivered for the next few decades. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the country\u2019s top technical body for electricity planning under the Ministry of Power, has issued draft regulations requiring all new ground-mounted solar and onshore wind projects commissioned after July 1, 2027, to include energy storage systems. The draft amendment requires all new renewable energy projects to install co-located energy storage equal to at least 10% of their installed capacity, with a minimum storage duration of two hours. Starting in July, 2029, the requirement is even more stringent, increasing to 4 hours storage.<\/p>\n
This proposal is not a routine technical adjustment and is now out for public consultation until October 4, 2026. It is a policy shift of huge commercial importance. Once finalized, this regulation will ensure every renewable energy project with a capacity of 100MW and above will require battery storage, presenting a huge opportunity for those ready to invest and build in this expanding market. Implementing this will ensure that all new renewable energy projects >100MW would need battery storage, giving entrepreneurs, MSMEs, investors and start-up founders a significant opportunity to jump into this growing market early.<\/p>\n