Coal India has launched an 80 MW/320 MWh BESS tender to be developed across four Odisha sites
It seeks an EPC partner to cover design, construction, commissioning, and 15-year O&M
Separately, Cochin Shipyard Limited has also launched a grid-connected BESS call for 10 MW/20 MWh capacity
Coal India Limited (CIL) has launched a tender for the development of 80 MW/320 MWh of standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in Odisha.
CIL subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) is the BESS developer (BESSD) for the project. It has entered into a battery energy storage purchase agreement (BESPA) with GRIDCO Limited, the state-owned power utility in Odisha.
The tender is open to interested EPC contractors, who will be responsible for the complete design, engineering, procurement, supply, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning. Comprehensive operations and maintenance (O&M) for 15 years post-commissioning is also part of the broad scope of work.
Under an EPC contract to be entered into with MCL, the selected contractors will develop 80 MW/320 MWh of BESS capacity across four locations in two clusters of 40 MW/160 MWh each. Each site under the clusters will have 20 MW/80 MWh capacity. Padampur and Bolangir will form Cluster 1, while Bhatli and Basta will constitute Cluster 2. The projects will be developed on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.
Projects in both the clusters must be completed within 11 months from the date of issue of the letter of award (LOA) or handing over of land by CIL or MCL to the bidder, whichever is later.
For CIL, the project forms part of its broader ambition to develop 5 GW of renewable energy capacity by FY 2028-29, using land available with its subsidiaries and in states with significant solar potential. The state-owned coal producer is exploring large-scale BESS installations to support its growing renewable energy portfolio. It is also actively participating in requests for selection (RfS) issued by central and state agencies for renewable energy and energy storage projects, creating a need for EPC contractors to execute these projects.
For the Odisha call launched on September 15, 2026, CIL will accept bids from interested EPC contractors until October 9, 2026. Details of tender 2026_CILHQ_363421_1 are available on CIL’s e-procurement website.
Battery storage is gaining traction in India as utilities use it to balance the grid, manage peak demand, and integrate renewable energy. According to Mercom, India’s cumulative BESS capacity reached 9.3 GWh by the end of June 2026, after 8.2 GWh of additions in H1 2026 (see India’s Battery Storage Capacity Up 84% YoY In H1 2026).
In related energy storage tender news from India, Cochin Shipyard Limited has invited bids for a 10 MW/20 MWh grid-connected BESS project. The project will be deployed in the shipyard with a mandatory preliminary site study to be conducted by the bidder on September 29, 2026. It will be a turnkey contract.
Cochin Shipyard launched the call on September 15, 2026. The last date for bid submission is October 13, 2026.
