Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) document for setting up Pilot Projects of Standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with a capacity of 300 MW/600 MWh in Maharashtra. These projects aim to meet the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) as per the guidelines issued by the Government of India. The bidding process is based on global competitive bidding under a tariff-based system, and the projects will be developed on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis.
The last date for bid submission is 26th August 2024. Bidders are required to submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹7,40,000 per MW. Upon selection, the successful bidders must provide a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of ₹18,50,000 per MW before signing the Battery Energy Storage Purchase Agreement (BESPA). The selected Battery Energy Storage System Developers (BESSD) will be responsible for setting up the BESS connected to the state grid. The primary goal is to make the energy storage facility available to MSEDCL for charging and discharging on demand.
The selection process will follow a Single Stage, Two-Envelope Competitive Bidding Procedure, including an e-Reverse Auction. The minimum bid size is 100 MWh (50 MW x 2 hours). The BESS projects will be located in the vicinity of MSEDCL substations across Maharashtra. MSEDCL will provide land on a right-of-use basis at an annual lease charge of ₹1 per plot per year. The location of the BESS projects has been identified, and details are provided in Annexure-E of the RfS document. Bidders can select their project location based on their ranking in the auction.
The BESS will be designed for interconnection with MSEDCL’s substation, complying with the applicable Grid Code and Grid Connectivity Standards issued by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The project should be capable of delivering the contracted capacity, with the system’s power rating being 300 MW and an energy rating of 600 MWh. The BESS must be able to perform one complete charge-discharge cycle per day.
MSEDCL will provide the necessary power for charging the BESS, considering the system’s round-trip efficiency (RtE). The contracted capacity will be supplied and off-taken by MSEDCL, with no merchant capacity allowed. The BESSD must ensure that the BESS meets the performance requirements outlined in Annexure-A of the RfS document.
MSEDCL allows part commissioning of the project, provided that the initial part commissioning capacity is at least 50% of the project capacity or 50 MW, whichever is lower. The project can be commissioned in up to three installments, but the scheduled commissioning date (SCD) will not change due to part commissioning. The BESPA will remain in force for the duration specified in Clause 18.2 of the RfS, regardless of the commissioning dates.
This initiative by MSEDCL is a significant step towards enhancing energy storage capabilities in Maharashtra, ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply to meet the growing demands of the state.
Please view the tender here for more details.
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