The Maharashtra government has issued FAQs clarifying the implementation of its Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Policy 2025-26 to 2035-36, notified in March 2026. The clarification covers project transition, mandatory storage requirements and eligibility for Renewable Energy Industrial Zones.
Key provisions include:
- New renewable energy projects above 100 kW must provide storage equivalent to at least 50% of their renewable energy capacity for two hours, translating to a minimum of 1 MWh per MW of grid connectivity.
- BESS power rating cannot be below 25% of the project’s grid connectivity.
- Projects covered by the new policy must commission the required BESS alongside the corresponding renewable energy capacity.
- Storage can be installed at a common pooling substation serving multiple renewable energy projects, subject to metering and energy-accounting requirements.
- Projects seeking electricity-duty exemption face a minimum storage requirement of 2 MWh per MW of renewable energy connectivity.
- RE parks developed entirely through private investment will not qualify for the policy’s budgetary support.
Projects that had received in-principle grid connectivity approval before March 18, 2026 will continue under the applicable 2015 or 2020 renewable energy policy.
