The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has issued a major order finalizing amendments to the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grid Interactive Distributed Renewable Energy Generating Systems) Regulations, 2021. These changes, now formalized as the Third Amendment Regulations, 2025, come after an extensive consultation process that included public objections and hearings held on July 18 and September 15, 2025. The final order, dated October 13, 2025, was issued by Commission Chairman Dr. Rajesh Sharma and Member Sh. Hemant Kumar Jain.
The newly approved amendments introduce stricter technical, monitoring, and environmental compliance requirements for Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) systems, especially those integrated with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These changes reflect the Commission’s push for improved system reliability, enhanced transparency, and stronger environmental safeguards in the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector.
A major focus of the revised regulations is on real-time data communication and monitoring. For all DRE systems using BESS, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system must now comply with OPC version 2.0a or later, including OPC UA. The SCADA system must also include an OPC-DA server capable of providing real-time online data to the relevant authorities. The aim is to ensure continuous visibility of the BESS operation, enabling authorities to monitor parameters such as performance, usage, and charging-discharging patterns.
The regulations further require that real-time BESS data support the generation of daily, monthly, and annual reports. This enhanced reporting structure will help decision-makers analyze system trends and ensure regulatory compliance across the lifecycle of the installation.
In addition to SCADA standards, the Commission has mandated that all DRE systems with BESS must provide web-based monitoring. The system must not depend on any specific hardware or machine and should present the same screens available at the physical plant. This ensures remote accessibility, allowing stakeholders to monitor performance from any location. The platform must also enable the downloading of performance reports in both PDF and Excel formats. With this requirement, RERC aims to strengthen transparency and simplify remote performance audits for regulators and developers alike.
Environmental responsibility forms another critical part of the 2025 amendments. Recognizing the growing concerns around battery waste, the Commission has introduced strict rules governing the disposal of battery units used in BESS. Developers are now required to comply with the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, along with all future amendments. These rules ensure that hazardous waste, including used batteries, is handled, transported, and disposed of safely.
More specifically, once any unit of a battery module reaches the end of its operational life—whether due to defects, non-repairability, or failure—it must be disposed of according to the E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016, and the Battery Waste Management Rules issued by the Government of India. These provisions ensure that renewable energy growth does not come at the cost of environmental harm. Overall, the RERC’s final order strengthens oversight of distributed renewable energy projects and ensures that developers prioritize both technical transparency and environmental protection. The amendments reflect Rajasthan’s commitment to safe, sustainable, and well-regulated renewable energy expansion across the state.
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