NTPC Green Launches 17,500 MWh BESS EPC Tenders

NTPC Green Energy Limited has invited engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) bids for the development of 17,500 MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity across Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. 

The largest of the tenders launched is the call for the development of 7,800 MWh of BESS capacity at the NTPC REL Bikaner Solar Plant. The project will be divided into 500 MW/2,000 MWh at PSS-1 (block-1), 550 MW/2,200 MWh at PSS-2 (block-2), and 300 MW/1,200 MWh each for blocks 3,4, and 5 at PSS-3.  

Another call is for the development of 3,200 MWh of BESS capacity by NGEL at the NTPC REL Fatehgarh Solar Plant in Uttar Pradesh. It needs to be deployed as 300 MW/1,200 MWh each for blocks 1 and 2, and 200 MW/800 MWh for block-3.  

For the NTPC REL Khavda Solar Park in Gujarat, NGEL plans to deploy a 3,300 MWh BESS. It will be distributed as 300 MW/900 MWh each for blocks 1, 2, and 3, and the remaining 200 MW/600 MWh under block 4. 

NGEL has launched a separate tender seeking an EPC package for the development of 800 MW/3,200 MWh BESS at the NTPC REL Khavda Park. It says further bifurcation of the capacity into blocks will be available in detailed technical specifications.  

All of the capacity tendered should be the deliverable capacity to be demonstrated by the bidder at the time of commercial operation data (COD) at the point of interconnection. Each BESS block will be connected at the 33 kV level of designated solar plants.

Bidders will need to consider the aux consumption of the BESS plant in addition to other losses during discharge to arrive at the discharge capacity of the BESS project.  

The broad scope of work for the winning developers will span design, engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning of grid-connected BESS on a turnkey basis. Comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) for 15 years is also part of the job description. 

The design life of the BESS system will be 25 years from the date of commissioning, with batteries rated for a minimum of 10,000 cycles of operation.  

Bidders will have to guarantee a minimum of 92% dispatchable capacity at POI across all 15 years, starting with 100% of rated capacity at COD, and 95% for the first year. At the time of handover, it shall be a minimum 92%, according to tender conditions. 

The last date for bid submission for all of these tenders is June 25, 2026. 

Earlier this year, NGEL’s joint venture company with MAHAGENCO invited EOIs to secure close to 10,000 acres of land in Maharashtra for renewable energy projects (see MAHAGENCO-NTPC Green JV Seeks Land For RE Projects).