CEA Issues Draft Framework for Mandatory External Safety Audits of BESS Projects
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued draft procedures and reporting formats for mandatory external safety audits of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) installations, seeking stakeholder comments by July 28, as India prepares for a rapid scale-up in battery storage deployments.
Under the proposed framework, all generating stations with BESS installations will be required to submit external safety audit reports to the CEA once every two years. The audits will have to be conducted by accredited third-party agencies and may also be subjected to physical verification by the authority.
The draft framework prescribes a comprehensive audit format covering project details, occupational safety and health (OSH) systems, technical compliance checks, observations, recommendations and timelines for corrective actions. Developers will also be required to classify identified risks into low, medium and high categories and submit action plans for addressing them.
Different Parameters
The proposed technical checklist includes parameters such as site suitability, resilience to extreme weather conditions, fire suppression and explosion protection systems, surge protection measures, SCADA integration, auxiliary power arrangements and cybersecurity provisions. It also mandates verification of real-time monitoring capabilities for battery temperatures, voltages, humidity levels and power output.
Further, project developers will be required to maintain records related to cell- and system-level certifications, thermal runaway characterisation studies, environmental stress testing, anti-islanding protection tests, metering records and safety clearances obtained from the CEA or the Chief Electrical Inspector before commissioning.
Self Certification Requirements
The draft norms also introduce a series of self-certification requirements for project owners, including compliance with seismic standards, performance guarantees, minimum depth of discharge, round-trip efficiency and battery management system (BMS) capabilities. BESS projects will need to demonstrate two-fault tolerance to prevent catastrophic failures and deploy hazard detection systems for smoke, gas, heat and flame.
CEA has also laid down eligibility criteria for external auditors. Audit teams must comprise at least three experts with backgrounds in electrical, mechanical and fire and safety engineering. One member must be an ISO-45001 lead auditor, while another should have at least 10 years of experience in power plant operations or hazardous industries. The audit exercise must include a minimum three-day field inspection.
The move comes as India targets large-scale deployment of battery storage systems to support renewable energy integration, with the draft framework expected to create a uniform safety and compliance regime for the emerging sector.