The Ministry of Power, through the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), has invited comments from stakeholders on a proposed framework for conducting safety audits of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) plants across India. The public notice, issued by the CEA’s Energy Storage System Division, aims to establish a standardized process for improving the safety, reliability, and compliance of grid-connected battery storage projects as the country rapidly expands its clean energy capacity. Stakeholders have been asked to submit their feedback on the draft framework by July 28, 2026.
The proposed framework is based on Regulation 12 of the CEA Safety Requirements for Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines Regulations. Under these provisions, every generating station operating a BESS plant will be required to undergo an external safety audit once every two years. These audits must be carried out by an accredited and independent third-party agency. After completion, the audit report must be submitted directly to the CEA for review.
To ensure compliance with the regulations, the CEA has also stated that its authorized officers may conduct surprise physical inspections of BESS facilities whenever required. These inspections will help verify the findings of the submitted audit reports and assess whether the projects are meeting the prescribed safety standards.
The draft framework includes a standardized reporting format, a detailed technical checklist, and minimum eligibility requirements for auditing agencies. The proposed report format covers key areas such as an executive summary, audit methodology, occupational health and safety observations, and technical compliance findings. It also introduces a compliance matrix where each observation is classified according to its level of risk—low, medium, or high—and includes clear timelines for implementing corrective actions.
The technical checklist requires auditors to examine a wide range of factors affecting the safe operation of battery storage facilities. These include the plant’s exposure to environmental risks such as floods, avalanches, and geological hazards, as well as adequate spacing between battery enclosures and nearby structures. Auditors will also verify important technical parameters, including a minimum round-trip efficiency of 70%, multiple layers of electrical protection, and the ability of the system to deliver at least 90% of its rated power output after five years of operation.
The framework places significant emphasis on advanced safety systems. BESS plants will be expected to have automatic fire suppression systems, thermal runaway detection and containment measures, real-time SCADA-based monitoring, and continuous recording of protection and emergency events.
The CEA has also defined the qualifications for independent audit teams. Each audit team must include at least three engineers with expertise in electrical, mechanical, and fire or safety engineering. The team must be led by a certified ISO 45001 lead auditor and include at least one member with a minimum of ten years of industrial plant operation experience. The audit must involve at least nine cumulative man-days of work conducted over a minimum of three days, while occupational health assessments must comply with IS 14489:2018 standards. The final audit report will require signatures from both the lead auditor and the head of the BESS project before it is formally submitted to the CEA.
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