July 1: The Tamil Nadu Energy Department has made it mandatory for all wind and solar power producers in the State to integrate their real-time generation data with the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), aiming to strengthen grid stability as renewable energy’s share in the State’s electricity supply continues to rise.
Electricity Minister R. Nirmalkumar said the directive follows a notification issued by the SLDC on May 30, requiring renewable energy generators to connect their plants to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. Under the notification, all wind and solar power producers have been directed to complete the integration within 15 days of receiving the notice. The requirement has also been incorporated into the newly issued Tamil Nadu Grid Code – 2026 by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC).
The government said the move has become essential as renewable energy now accounts for more than 50% of Tamil Nadu’s total electricity demand. Since wind and solar generation fluctuate depending on weather conditions, access to real-time operational data is critical for balancing electricity supply, ensuring grid stability and preventing disruptions in power distribution.
According to the Energy Department, Tamil Nadu has over 12,000 wind and solar power producers, but less than 10% have so far integrated their real-time data with the SLDC. Despite multiple reminders, official notices and high-level meetings, nearly 90% of renewable energy generators have yet to comply with the requirement.
To enforce compliance, the government has outlined a phased penalty mechanism. Renewable energy generators that fail to integrate real-time data will initially face the exclusion of 10% of their power generation from power dispatch and deviation settlement processes. If non-compliance continues for 30 days, the entire power generation from the plant may be excluded from these processes.
The department further warned that generators failing to establish the required data integration even after 45 days will face additional action under the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) regulations, with the matter also being reported to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission for further action.
The State government said the initiative will improve monitoring of renewable energy generation, enhance grid reliability and support the efficient integration of clean energy into Tamil Nadu’s rapidly expanding power network.
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