GRID-INDIA (Grid Controller of India Ltd.) has released a comprehensive Discussion Paper on “Grid-Forming Technology and Possible Applications in the Indian Power System”, signalling a potential shift in how India manages grid stability in a rapidly inverter-dominated power system.
The paper comes at a crucial moment as India accelerates toward 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, with wind and solar expected to contribute nearly 392 GW. As of July 2025, India’s variable renewable energy (VRE) capacity has already crossed 171 GW, pushing inverter-based resources to the forefront of grid operations.
GRID-INDIA warns that continuing to rely predominantly on conventional grid-following (GFL) inverters may not be sufficient to ensure stability under high renewable penetration, weak grid conditions, and low short-circuit ratios increasingly observed at large renewable pooling stations.
Why GRID-INDIA Is Re-thinking Inverter Control
According to the paper, India has witnessed around 68 major renewable generation loss events (exceeding 1,000 MW each) between January 2022 and July 2025, largely linked to:
- Weak grid conditions at RE pooling stations
- Fault ride-through failures
- Low-frequency and voltage oscillations
- Inadequate voltage and frequency support from grid-following inverters
Most utility-scale solar and wind plants today operate using grid-following control, which depends on an existing grid voltage reference via phase-locked loops (PLLs). While effective in strong grids, GRID-INDIA notes that GFL inverters can become unstable in low-SCR, renewable-heavy networks.
Grid-Forming Technology: What Changes
Grid-forming (GFM) inverters fundamentally alter this dynamic. Instead of following the grid, they behave like controllable voltage sources, capable of:
- Establishing voltage and frequency autonomously
- Providing inertia-like and damping response
- Supporting faster fault recovery
- Operating stably in weak or islanded grids
The discussion paper evaluates GFM performance through all-India power system simulations, IEEE benchmark networks, and international deployment experience.
Key Findings from GRID-INDIA’s Simulations
The simulation studies reveal clear advantages of grid-forming inverters over conventional grid-following systems:
- Superior stability in weak grids: GFM inverters remain stable where PLL-based GFL inverters show oscillatory or unstable behaviour
- Improved voltage control: Reduced fault-induced voltage dips and faster damping of post-fault oscillations
- Faster active power recovery: Lower risk of post-fault over-voltages and cascading tripping events
- Effective RoCoF reduction: Instantaneous inertia-like response helps limit frequency deviation during disturbances
- Scalable benefits: Higher penetration of GFM leads to progressively better system performance
Strategic placement also matters — concentrated GFM deployment improves local stability, while distributed deployment offers system-wide resilience gains.
Global Experience Strengthens the Case
GRID-INDIA highlights that grid-forming technology has already moved beyond pilot stages globally, with successful deployments in:
- Australia
- Great Britain
- United States
- Middle East
Most real-world applications are BESS-led grid-forming projects, delivering black-start capability, fast voltage support, inertial response, and stable operation under extremely low system strength conditions.
What This Means for India’s Grid Roadmap
The paper suggests that future large-scale BESS installations (50 MW and above) — especially in weak-grid or remote locations — may be strong candidates for grid-forming capability.
Rather than mandating immediate adoption, GRID-INDIA proposes:
- Large grid-scale pilot projects
- Gradual alignment of Indian grid codes with evolving international GFM standards
- Close coordination between regulators, system operators, OEMs, and developers
Importantly, the paper positions itself as a discussion document, inviting feedback from industry stakeholders and technical experts to shape India’s next phase of grid evolution.
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