Maharashtra regulator proposes mandatory batteries for new wind and solar
Serguey Asael Shinder2 min readThe Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission has proposed making battery storage a condition of grid connection for new wind and solar projects in the Indian state, Energy-Storage.news reports. The requirement is part of a broad overhaul of the state's transmission and open access rules, published in draft as the Intra-State Transmission Connectivity and General Network Access Regulations, 2026.
Applicants connecting variable renewable generation would have to install storage meeting one of two criteria: capacity of at least 50% of the connectivity applied for, with a minimum discharge duration of two hours, or a power rating of at least 25% with at least four hours. The draft also sets a minimum usable storage capacity of 1 MWh per MW of sanctioned connectivity for applications up to 2030, rising to 2 MWh per MW after that.
The rules would take effect when the final regulations are published, and would also apply to pending applications that have not yet received in-principle approval. Co-located hybrid projects could seek connectivity equal to the largest single capacity on site, whether generation or storage, while non-co-located hybrids would need separate applications at each connection point. Holders could add generation or storage within their sanctioned connectivity with prior approval.
The drafts were published together with proposed rules on storage, rooftop renewables, forecasting and scheduling, renewable purchase obligations and the state grid code, to align the market with Maharashtra's renewable energy and storage policy for 2025-26 to 2035-36. As of 31 August 2026 the state had 20.40 GW of solar and 6.45 GW of wind among 33.28 GW of renewable capacity, according to India's renewable energy ministry. The article notes that Rajasthan, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have also introduced storage frameworks.
Why it matters
Tying batteries to the right to connect turns storage from an optional investment into part of the cost of a renewable project. The application to pending requests is the sharp edge: developers already in the queue may have to redesign projects they had priced without storage.