Abstract
India is witnessing rapid growth in solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment as part of its transition toward a decarbonized energy system. However, most PV capacity is currently concentrated in a few western and southern states, while the North-Eastern Region (NER) remains largely untapped despite its significant solar and hydroelectric potential. This paper investigates the technical and operational implications of integrating solar PV in the NER, focusing on actual fault events that highlight grid protection challenges under high inverter-based resource (IBR) penetration. By analyzing disturbance data, the study examines issues such as non-homogeneity in fault characteristics, weak infeed scenarios, and the limitations of conventional distance protection. Furthermore, it demonstrates the advantages of geographically dispersing PV generation across India to reduce variability, extend solar generation hours, and improve the diversity factor. Results show that NER solar output aligns closely with national morning peak demand, thereby reducing the need for costly storage or gas-fired generation. The combined utilization of PV and hydro resources in NER can further optimize existing transmission infrastructure. The insights presented in this paper contribute to ongoing discussions on adaptive protection schemes, grid code compliance, and strategic PV deployment to enhance resilience, stability, and sustainability of the Indian power system.