The Ministry of Power (MoP), on December 12, 2025, issued a Draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Independent Third-Party Fire Safety Audit of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The following has been stated namely: -
• As mandated under the provision of regulation 122 (L)(1) of the draft Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2025, an independent third-party fire safety audit of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) shall be conducted, as provided in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be issued by the Authority.
• Battery energy storage systems are inherently susceptible to fire hazards, primarily arising from thermal runaway and potential cascading cell failures and require special considerations. This SOP aims to provide an independent third-party fire safety audit framework to maintain BESS installations in a condition free from dangers associated with fire-related safety hazards of the BESS to avoid any injury to humans, animals and property and also ensure the Grid stability. This can be ensured through the regular audits of the BESS installations & putting in place comprehensive measures to mitigate the occurrence of fire, prevent its propagation.
• CEA has prepared a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting an independent third-party fire safety audit of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The draft SOP is enclosed herewith. The draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is also available on the CEA Website (www.cea.nic.in)
• All the Stakeholders and the public are requested to send their comments on the draft SOP to Chief Engineer (CEI), Sewa Bhawan (North Wing), Room No. 712, 7th Floor, R. K. Puram, New Delhi-110066 by post or through e-mail ([email protected]), latest by January 11, 2026.
[Notification No. CEA-PS-16/24/2023-CEI Division]
