Primary focus of the partnership is enhancing black start capabilities - critical for restoring power after a blackout

(Photo: Left to Right- Mr. Somara Lakra, CGM, NRLDC; Mr. Nabarun Roy, Executive Director, NRLDC; Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations, IIT Delhi)

New Delhi: 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).

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.

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.”

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About Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NRLDC)/Grid India

The Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC), operating under the Grid Controller of India Limited (formerly known as Power System Operation Corporation Limited or POSOCO), is the apex body responsible for ensuring the integrated operation of the power system in India's Northern Region. This region encompasses the states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

About IIT Delhi

IIT Delhi is one of the 23 IITs created to be Centres of Excellence for training, research and development in science, engineering and technology in India. Since its inception in 1961, IIT Delhi has produced more than 60,000 graduates, including over 7000 PhD holders, many of whom have made significant contributions in fields such as technology, business, and politics.