Solar-Wind Boom Threatens Grid Stability: CEA's Urgent Call for GFM Inverters – India's Energy Future at Stake

• Published
• By Anupam Nath

The recent surge in solar and wind energy installations in India has brought both tremendous opportunities and significant challenges to the national power grid. As renewable energy sources now constitute over 50% of India's installed capacity (with renewables including large hydro reaching 258.3 GW by late 2025, and solar alone at 26.5%), the traditional grid—historically stabilized by synchronous generators in thermal and hydro plants—faces increasing instability. Variable renewable energy (VRE) like solar and wind relies heavily on grid-following (GFL) inverters, which synchronize to an existing grid voltage and frequency but provide limited support during disturbances. In high-penetration scenarios, this can lead to issues such as frequency fluctuations, voltage instability, reduced inertia, and risks of blackouts or curtailment of renewable power.

Grid-forming (GFM) inverters represent a transformative solution. Unlike GFL inverters that "follow" the grid, GFM inverters act as voltage sources, independently establishing and regulating voltage and frequency. They emulate the behavior of traditional synchronous machines by providing virtual inertia, fast frequency response, damping, reactive power support, and even black-start capabilities. This makes them essential for maintaining grid stability in a future dominated by inverter-based resources (IBR). International experiences and simulations show GFM technology enhances transient stability, supports weak grids, and enables higher renewable integration without compromising reliability. In India, bodies like Grid-India have already released discussion papers advocating GFM adoption, particularly for large battery energy storage systems (BESS) above 50 MW in remote or weak-grid areas.

Recognizing this urgency, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under the Ministry of Power, issued a key directive in early February 2026. On February 3, 2026, the Energy Storage System Division (ESSD) of the CEA sent a formal letter to all manufacturers of Grid Forming (GFM) inverters operating in India. Signed by Dr. Veepin Kumar, Deputy Director of the ESSD, the letter highlights the growing share of renewables and the consequent need for GFM inverters to ensure a stable and reliable electricity grid.

The CEA's demand is clear and time-bound: manufacturers must submit detailed information on their domestic manufacturing capabilities for GFM inverters. This includes:

Total manufacturing capacity in India.

Indicative costs for GFM inverters (and comparably for grid-following inverters) in categories such as central and string types.

Specific data across capacity ranges: from 10 kW up to 1 MW, plus the maximum size each manufacturer produces.

The information is to be provided in a prescribed attached format and submitted via email to essd.cea@gov.in by the strict deadline of February 10, 2026. This data collection exercise aims to provide an accurate estimate of India's indigenous GFM inverter production capacity, informing future planning, policy interventions, regulatory frameworks, and technical standards to accelerate adoption.

The CEA's action underscores a proactive stance in India's energy transition. With ambitious targets like 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, the country cannot afford grid constraints to limit renewable scaling. By mapping manufacturing readiness, the government can identify gaps, incentivize local production (potentially through Make in India alignments or incentives), update grid codes, and promote pilots for GFM-integrated projects. This could reduce reliance on imports, lower costs over time, and build supply chain resilience.

The implications for India's energy future are profound. A successful shift toward GFM technology could unlock higher VRE penetration, minimize curtailment, enhance grid resilience against extreme weather or demand spikes (from EVs, data centers, and green hydrogen), and support decentralized systems like rooftop solar with storage. It positions India as a leader in advanced inverter technologies amid the global clean energy race.

However, challenges remain: GFM inverters are more complex and currently costlier than GFL types, requiring R&D, testing, and certification. The tight deadline reflects urgency but also tests the industry's responsiveness. Manufacturers' timely and accurate submissions will be crucial for shaping supportive policies.

In summary, the solar-wind boom is no longer just about adding capacity—it's about intelligently integrating it. The CEA's letter to GFM inverter manufacturers is a pivotal step toward a stable, renewable-dominant grid. As India races toward net-zero aspirations, embracing grid-forming technology will be key to turning potential instability into reliable, sustainable power for millions.