The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has invited comments from the public on its draft regulations technical standards for connectivity to the grid. The comment period will be open from November 15, 2016 to December 31, 2016.

The transmission sector in the country needs an overhaul if renewable energy targets are to be reached. The changes proposed by the CEA is expected to help prevent surplus renewable energy waste.

With this amended draft the CEA proposes to introduce and review the following provisions:

• Introduction of frequency range with a provision to include frequency response by wind and solar power projects.
• Introduce applicability of low voltage ride-through (LVRT) to solar energy generating projects.
• Change applicability of LVRT to wind energy generating projects at all voltage levels in place of 66 kV level and above.
• Introduction of high voltage ride-through (HVRT) facility in solar and wind energy generating projects.
• Specify ramp-up & ramp-down rates for solar and wind energy generating projects.
• Introduction of voltage regulation services for solar and wind energy generating projects.
• Introduction of short circuit ratio (SCR) for renewable energy generating projects.
• Review of reactive power control capability of renewable energy generating projects.
• Review of limits of harmonics.
• Power to relax in case of introduction of a new technology.
• Compliance monitoring of CEA Regulations.

“The new CEA Regulations will be out by the end of the current fiscal year, we are just waiting for all comments on the proposed amendments,” commented an official at the CEA.

The development is in accordance with Section 177 of the Electricity Act of 2003 and this will be the second amendment of CEA Regulations.

Image credit: Pixabay

Sampath has been part of the Mercom India research and news team since the company’s inception. He currently oversees all data and research relating to news published on the MercomIndia.com platform. Sampath received his Bachelor’s of Commerce Degree from Kuvempu University and Post Graduate Diploma in Management, from Indira Gandhi National Open University. More articles from Sampath Krishna.