IIT Delhi And NRLDC Partner To Enhance Grid Reliability And Renewable Energy Integration

IIT Delhi has partnered with the Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NRLDC), under Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India), to develop advanced solutions for grid stability and renewable energy integration.

NRLDC, one of five Regional Load Dispatch Centres (RLDCs) managed by Grid-India, ensures the stability and reliability of the Northern Region’s power system. It oversees grid operations across multiple states, optimizing electricity distribution through real-time monitoring, load balancing, and coordination with State Load Dispatch Centres (SLDCs).

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Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi, emphasized the collaboration’s role in strengthening India’s energy infrastructure and improving grid resilience. This collaboration represents a major advancement in India’s efforts toward a more resilient and sustainable energy system, reinforcing the vital role of industry-academia partnerships in shaping the future of power management.

A primary focus of this partnership is enhancing black start capabilities—critical for restoring power after a blackout. Traditionally, black start operations depend on hydro and diesel generators. However, with the increasing integration of renewable energy, ensuring black start readiness using inverter-based resources (IBRs) is essential.

India’s power system is among the world’s largest synchronized electricity grids, with a total installed capacity exceeding 420 GW, including over 150 GW from renewables as of July 31, 2024. Rising energy demand and grid expansion highlight the urgency of robust restoration mechanisms.

This collaboration will test and validate IBR-based black start operations through hardware simulations and real-world scenarios. A key aspect of this research is managing the transition between grid-forming and grid-following inverter modes to ensure stable voltage and frequency during power restoration, minimizing disruptions.

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The project will be led by Prof. Avanish Tripathi, supported by Prof. Rabindra Mohanty, both from IIT Delhi’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering. Prof. Vamsi Krishna Komarala, Head, Department of Energy Science and Engineering, stated, “This initiative is a crucial step in strengthening India’s power grid and ensuring seamless renewable energy integration.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nabarun Roy, Executive Director, NRLDC said, “Due to unprecedented expansion in power system’s size and complexity in the country, newer industry oriented technological innovations are needed to manage expansion & advancement in energy sector. This industry-academia collaborative effort is another step forward towards the strategic innovation that would benefit the evolving energy sector.”