The Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (RRVPNL) has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the first time charging of battery energy storage systems (BESS) installed with commissioned or soon-to-be-commissioned renewable energy projects under the Rajasthan Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024.

The SOP, effective from April 22, 2026, includes multiple annexures detailing technical requirements, testing protocols, and system studies.

The SOP sets out the technical specifications and data requirements that battery storage project developers must meet when deploying battery energy systems for technical validation, grid impact assessment, system integration, and connectivity compliance.

Developers must provide detailed information, including the battery type, chemistry, efficiency, capacity, lifecycle, and performance parameters. They must also provide specifications of key components such as inverters, converters, and control systems.

The SOP mandates that developers design, configure, and operate battery storage projects in compliance with operating parameters such as charge and discharge ratings, voltage and frequency limits, round-trip efficiency, and other technical requirements specified in the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) technical standards and grid regulations.

The battery storage projects must include advanced functionalities such as active and reactive power control, frequency and voltage regulation, four-quadrant operation, and remote dispatch capability.

The SOP also mandates protection mechanisms for battery storage projects, including over- and undervoltage protection, frequency protection, surge protection, ground-fault protection, and fault-handling systems.

Developers must ensure real-time communication with the State Load Dispatch Center and provide continuous telemetry data, including power output, state of charge, temperature, alarms, and system status.

The SOP also requires developers to conduct pre-commissioning tests to verify sensor, control, and protection systems, interface compatibility, and overall system performance.

Battery systems must comply with CEA regulations, grid standards, and grid codes for parameters such as frequency, voltage, harmonics, reactive power support, and frequency response capability.

Developers must also submit detailed simulation models, including RMS and EMT models, and demonstrate alignment between simulated and actual performance through validation studies.

They also mandate operational flexibility, including grid synchronization, voltage and frequency control, islanded and parallel operation, and grid-forming capabilities where applicable.

Post-commissioning validation through on-site testing and periodic compliance checks is mandatory. Deviations between modeled and actual performance must be corrected through updated submissions.

Battery storage systems can help states reduce renewable energy curtailment and improve grid stability.

According to data published by RRVPNL, Rajasthan recorded solar and wind curtailments totaling 8,318.2 MW in March 2026. The state has curtailed 11.5 GW of renewable energy since January.

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