UL Receives Accreditation to Test RE Plants in India per CEA Grid Codes

UL has received accreditation from DAkkS that enables it to test renewable energy (RE) power plants per CEA of India grid codes.

UL, a global safety science company, has announced that it has received accreditation from Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS) that enables it to test renewable energy (RE) power plants per Central Electricity Authority (CEA) of India grid codes. The recognition complements an existing DAkkS accreditation of DEWI Offshore and Certification Centre GmbH (DEWI-OCC), an independent certification body within UL, to provide certification for renewable energy power generating units and plants according to the grid codes established by CEA.

The main objective of CEA’s new regulations is to improve grid stability and applies to all renewable energy power generating units and plants including wind, solar, hybrid and energy storage systems.

UL has received DAkkS accreditation for testing compliance to grid codes prevailing in India, Germany, Spain, Italy, Europe and the U.K.

Dr. Chakradhar Byreddy, Director for Renewables in the Asia Pacific for UL, said, “we are delighted on becoming the first organization to be accredited by DAkkS for prototype testing according to the CEA grid codes. With this accreditation, we can enable manufacturers in India to achieve compliance and help ensure renewable energy plants safely transmit power to the grid. At UL, we will continue to empower the manufacturers by providing the necessary prototype testing capabilities, customised solutions for grid integration and energy systems and advisory based on our understanding of global grid codes.”

In India, mandatory testing is required for the wind turbines, solar inverters and energy storage systems manufactured by domestic and international companies before commissioning in power plants. Congruent to which, UL will now facilitate field-testing for wind turbine manufacturers as per the CEA regulations by using its mobile test laboratories while the solar inverter manufacturers can avail the testing services in the field or at their manufacturing units.

Mandatory testing before commissioning is the necessary evil in India. Necessary for the project owners and operators that have to handle the day to day operations of the plants and meet specified CUF numbers regularly. And evil for the project developers or part suppliers that must confine to all regulations and conduct testing at their expense to get the parts/ projects signed off.