NTPC Green Energy, Opera Energy, and Tata Power Renewable Energy have been selected as winners in the recent auction conducted by NHPC for developing 125 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Kerala under the first tranche. These projects will be connected to the state’s intrastate transmission system.
NTPC Green Energy secured two projects—one with a capacity of 40 MW/160 MWh at the Sreekantapuram substation, quoted at a monthly tariff of ₹434,000 per MW, and another with 40 MW/160 MWh at the Pothencode substation, awarded at ₹457,000 per MW. Opera Energy was awarded 15 MW/60 MWh at the Mulleria substation with a tariff of ₹438,000 per MW per month. Tata Power Renewable Energy won the contract for a 30 MW/120 MWh system at the Areacode substation, also priced at ₹438,000 per MW/month.
The auction was based on a tender issued in January 2025. All developers must commission their projects within 18 months from the date of signing the battery energy storage purchase agreement. These projects are eligible for viability gap funding of either ₹2.7 million per MWh or 30% of the capital cost, whichever is lower. Developers are also required to provide a security deposit of ₹500,000 per MWh before commissioning the first phase of the project.
Each BESS unit must complete at least one full cycle per day and achieve a minimum 95% system availability monthly. Additionally, the systems must maintain a round-trip efficiency of at least 85% on an AC-to-AC basis. Charging will be given priority from renewable sources by the Kerala State Electricity Board. Only tested and commercially operational technologies that comply with existing codes and standards are allowed.
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