NTPC REL Floats Global Tender For 1,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage Project At Bikaner Solar Plant

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has invited international competitive bids for setting up a large battery energy storage project at its Bikaner Solar Plant in Rajasthan. The project involves the development of a 1,000 megawatt-hour (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract. This move is aimed at strengthening grid reliability and supporting the growing share of renewable energy in India’s power system.

The BESS project will be developed as a single block with a capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) and 1,000 MWh, designed for a four-hour discharge cycle. NTPC REL has specified that the system will be grid-connected and developed on a complete turnkey basis. The selected bidder will be responsible for the entire scope of work, including design, detailed engineering, supply of equipment, installation, testing, and commissioning of the battery storage system.

In addition to construction and commissioning, the contractor will also be responsible for comprehensive operation and maintenance of the BESS for a period of 15 years. The system must be designed for a total life of 25 years and should be capable of delivering at least 10,000 charge-discharge cycles over its operational lifetime. These requirements highlight NTPC REL’s focus on long-term performance, reliability, and durability of the storage asset.

To qualify for the bidding process, interested bidders must meet specific technical and financial criteria. On the technical side, bidders should have prior experience in manufacturing or commissioning grid-connected battery energy storage systems with a cumulative capacity of at least 80 MWh. Financially, the bidder’s average annual turnover over the last three financial years must be a minimum of ₹1,530 million.

In a move to encourage wider participation, especially considering the current stage of domestic manufacturing, the Ministry of Power has allowed a one-year registration waiver for bidders using lithium-ion battery technology. This is expected to attract more players, including those relying on imported lithium-ion systems.

Bidders interested in participating in the tender must first register on the ETS portal and submit a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement to gain access to the detailed bidding documents. The bids will be evaluated through a single-stage, two-envelope process, which will be followed by a reverse auction to determine the final price.

According to the tender schedule, the Invitation for Bids was issued on February 6, 2026. The bidding documents will be available for download from February 12, 2026, at 5:00 pm IST until February 23, 2026, at 5:00 pm IST. The pre-bid conference and deadline for submission of queries is set for February 25, 2026. The last date for submission of techno-commercial and price bids is March 11, 2026, at 3:00 pm IST, with the techno-commercial bids scheduled to be opened the same day at 3:30 pm IST.

As part of the financial requirements, Indian bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit of ₹20 crore, while foreign bidders must submit a bid security of USD 2.17 million. A performance bank guarantee will also be required from the successful bidder, as per the terms mentioned in the bidding documents.