Rajasthan Issues Energy Storage Draft Guidelines: No Prior Approval Required for Registration, Existing Frameworks Apply to Hybrid Projects
The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has released draft guidelines on the deployment and utilization of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), defining them as generation, transmission, and distribution assets. The draft is open for public consultation until November 14, 2025.
The document aims to facilitate BESS participation in ancillary services and energy markets. It allows generating companies, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Captive Power Plants (CPPs), and dedicated storage developers to establish systems at any grid node following necessary approvals. Developers can register with the appropriate licensees to provide these services. The framework promotes cost-effective energy storage solutions that enhance grid stability, frequency regulation, and renewable energy integration, explicitly allowing aggregators and third-party BESS developers to participate in the power market.
The draft clarifies that BESS ownership may lie with distribution licensees, transmission licensees, generating companies, IPPs, electricity consumers, the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), standalone storage operators, renewable energy developers, aggregators, and other third-party investors. Deployment models include co-location with renewable or conventional generation, grid-scale standalone storage, embedded transmission and distribution integration, behind-the-meter user-side storage, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services integrating electric vehicle infrastructure. Storage systems may operate independently, as part of the generation-transmission-distribution network, or in coordination with consumer loads.
Incentive mechanisms are also proposed, allowing feed-in to the distribution grid during non-solar peak hours to be compensated at incentivized rates based on special directions from the regulator. Distribution licensees and the state transmission utility are expected to plan storage capacity within their jurisdictions based on technical requirements, system reliability, and demand profiles.
Catalonia Approves New Renewable Energy Law: Regulates Community Energy and Storage, Restricts Development on Irrigated Land
The Catalan government approved a new renewable energy law this Tuesday, aiming to accelerate the growth of green energy and storage while establishing a regulatory framework for community energy for the first time. The initial version of the law was passed in June but failed to secure parliamentary approval. It has now been reintroduced following an agreement with the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and En Comú Podem.
The law officially recognizes the role of community energy entities, creates a dedicated registration system, and outlines the participation of local authorities with enhanced autonomy. In terms of administrative streamlining, the law shortens project permitting timelines, allows the transfer of administrative authorizations for non-operational projects, raises the minimum capacity threshold for wind and solar projects requiring administrative authorization to 500kW, and improves procedures for upgrading power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
To improve social acceptance of renewable projects, the law mandates the establishment of community dialogue platforms in each territory and strengthens public participation and transparency. Environmental provisions include restrictions on the use of irrigated agricultural land for approved or under-construction renewable energy projects and plans for routing power lines along road networks. The law also provides specific guidelines for solar canopy installations.
Regarding energy storage, the law clearly outlines the urban planning and permitting processes for battery projects, aiming to clarify regulatory frameworks and enhance legal certainty. The Catalan Renewable Energy Association and the Catalan PV Association have welcomed the legislation, noting that the coordinated regulatory model offers both legal clarity and territorial respect, resolving uncertainties caused by the repeal of the previous law. Stakeholders believe this reform will support the development of a more resilient, decentralized, and socially accepted renewable energy system in Catalonia.
Bulgaria Allocates Additional €808 Million for Just Transition, with Dedicated Support for Energy Storage Projects
Bulgaria’s coal regions will receive an additional €808 million under the Just Transition Fund, bringing total investments in the country’s coal phase-out and economic transformation to €1.38 billion when combined with an existing €598 million package.
The funding covers the major coal regions of Stara Zagora, Kyustendil, and Pernik, as well as over a dozen municipalities including Nova Zagora, Yambol, and Simeonovgrad. The fund aims to support mine and coal plant closures, land restoration, circular economy development, climate neutrality initiatives, and relief for energy-poor households.
By the end of this year, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will launch three funding programs:
The hydrogen sector will receive a dedicated €134.5 million to establish a green hydrogen hub in Stara Zagora, build hydrogen refueling stations, procure hydrogen-powered vehicles and trailers, and install supporting solar and storage infrastructure. Priority areas in the transition plan include residential energy retrofits, SME support, and development of industrial logistics zones.
