Raj power regulator notifies battery storage guidelines for solar power

Jaipur: Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) Tuesday issued the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Regulations, 2026, laying down a framework for deployment, ownership and utilisation of energy storage systems.The regulations, finalised after stakeholder consultations and a public hearing, aim to strengthen grid reliability, enable renewable energy integration, and facilitate participation of storage systems in power markets and ancillary services. According to the commission, the new framework will apply to a wide range of entities, including distribution and transmission licensees, generating companies, renewable developers, aggregators, consumers, and prosumers involved in planning, procurement, and operation of BESS. A key feature of the regulations is the recognition of multiple ownership and business models. Reacting to the order, Ajitabh Sharma, ACS (Energy), said, "BESS can be developed by utilities, private players, or consumers, and deployed as standalone systems, co-located with renewable projects, or installed behind the meter. The framework also allows third-party participation and aggregation of distributed storage resources." The commission emphasised technology neutrality, ensuring that all battery-based storage systems meeting technical standards can participate, while leaving scope for inclusion of other storage technologies in future through separate provisions. Sharma said, "To ensure efficient planning, distribution companies and the State Transmission Utility (STU) will be required to assess storage needs in consultation with the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), factoring in grid stability, renewable penetration, and cost optimisation." The Commission said that storage plans must be aligned with resource adequacy guidelines and submitted to the Commission for approval. The regulations also enable BESS to provide ancillary services such as frequency regulation, voltage support, and spinning reserves, with provisions for multiple revenue streams through simultaneous service offerings. Importantly, procurement of BESS capacity by utilities will be carried out through tariff-based competitive bidding, with clear allocation of responsibilities for charging energy, efficiency losses, and settlement mechanisms.