The third revision of the rules of the Grid Access to the national power grid has been published by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India and includes specific requirements designed to increase the involvement of solar power, while also time a comprehensive set of cybersecurity measures so that the national power grid is not subjected to malware attacks. Such regulatory changes will demonstrate the dual investment by India in increasing renewable energy capacity.
CERC implements improved grid access provisions
Solar Quarter reports that the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has published the third amendment to the Solar and Scheduling Flexibility under the Grid Access Rules 2025. The amendment brings a number of important changes, such as substation clusters, lead-generating scheduling obligations, and greater flexibility in both solar and non-solar hours.
New regulations put in place more definite models of grid connectivity, especially with regard to the increasing complexity of the process of integrating variable renewable energy sources into the Indian power system. These provisions are intended to make access to the grid more streamlined without compromising system stability and reliability.
Clustering in substations is also effective
The amendment also proposes a concept of substation clusters, which will enable two or more renewable energy projects to share a common grid infrastructure more efficiently. This will lower the project cost per individual and improve grid coverage in various geographical locations. Lead generator scheduling provisions establish specific responsibilities to control power dispatch in these clusters and assure coordinated operation and management of the grid.
The regulations also provide flexible scheduling systems that meet the unreliability nature of solar power generation. According to the Economic Times, India has come up with new regulations on solar power equipment to prevent cyberattacks. It is focused on inverters, which turn direct current into electricity used in homes and the grid, and suppliers have to link the machines to a national software platform on servers in India.
Communication devices that can be linked to the inverters should all have special SIM cards that allow machines to exchange data safely without involving human input. The Renewable Energy Ministry stressed that inverter communication modules sending data to foreign servers located outside India represent risks of unauthorized control and endanger national energy sovereignty.
Chinese equipment is a source of security concern
The instructions now extend to rooftop solar inverters, which are the weakest link in the green power supply system because there is no technological protection. India has 1.8 million grid-connected rooftop solar units, and over 80 percent of the inverters are Chinese.
Governmental agencies around the world continue to strengthen security measures as their power grids are increasingly digitally connected and automated, which increases vulnerability to potential cyber attacks. According to Reuters, the US is reviewing the risks of using Chinese-made inverters after deceptive communication devices were discovered inside certain units.
Reforms are made because of ambitious, expansive goals
India envisions installing its rooftop solar systems in 10 million households with a total capacity of 30 gigawatts by March 2027. This tremendous increase requires not only the consolidated grid access protocols but also solid security systems whenever there are potential points of vulnerability.
This two-fold strategy to increase grid access and improve cybersecurity shows that India understands that it cannot afford to weaken national security because of renewable energy growth. The new regulations offer a sustainable development framework that ensures the protection of important infrastructure and opens doors to integrating clean sources of energy.
The new grid access regulations in India are a long-term solution to the growth of renewable energy, to balance easy access to connectivity with high-quality cybersecurity. The new regulatory measures put India on a path to meet its tremendous solar goals without compromising grid stability and national energy independence in an increasingly globalized digital environment.