The Government of India is working on a groundbreaking policy called the Solar Grid Interaction Safety Code (SGISC-2026), which aims to regulate how rooftop solar inverters interact with the national electricity grid. Senior officials told SolSetu that the new code will focus on stabilizing grid behaviour, reducing reverse-power issues, and preventing inverter misoperations during voltage fluctuations.

With India rapidly expanding its rooftop solar capacity, grid safety has become a top priority for DISCOMs and regulators.

Why SGISC-2026 Is Important

DISCOM reports indicate multiple challenges:

• Sudden inverter shutdowns during low voltage
• Reverse power injection beyond safe limits
• Anti-islanding failures during power cuts
• Overloading of transformers in dense rooftop solar regions
• Voltage imbalance caused by uneven solar generation

SGISC-2026 will aim to standardize how inverters must respond to such situations.

Key Features Under Discussion

According to early drafts, the safety code may include:

• Mandatory anti-islanding response times for all inverters
• Grid-safe export limit algorithms for residential systems
• Voltage & frequency stability thresholds
• Cap on peak export during mid-day generation
• Automatic ramp-up rate control after grid restoration
• Inverter behaviour rules for low-voltage & high-voltage scenarios
• Real-time monitoring compatibility with DISCOM portals

These measures will help prevent outages, protect transformers, and ensure stable grid performance.

Benefits for Consumers

Once implemented, SGISC-2026 may help rooftop solar users:

• Avoid inverter trips during voltage fluctuations
• Reduce grid-related inverter damage
• Ensure safer energy export and better DISCOM approval timelines
• Improve system performance during peak generation hours
• Comply with future net-metering safety norms

Experts say the code will create a safer, more predictable rooftop solar ecosystem.

Pilot Testing in 2026

Initial testing may start in regions with high rooftop penetration:

• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Tamil Nadu
• Rajasthan
• Karnataka

Nationwide implementation is expected after OEM alignment and DISCOM integration.

SolSetu will continue covering updates as SGISC-2026 moves toward final approval.