Power Grid Corporation Of India Limited Invites Bids For 500 MW/1000 MWh BESS Project In Punjab To Strengthen Renewable Grid

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has invited bids for a major renewable energy infrastructure project in Punjab that aims to strengthen the power grid and support the growing integration of renewable energy in the region. The project, identified as “Punjab-BESS-01-Patiala,” involves the development of a 500 MW / 1000 MWh Standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The tender has been issued under reference number CC/T/W-MISC/DOM/A10/26/03156.

The project will be implemented through the Tariff-Based Global Competitive Bidding (TBCB) route. This bidding mechanism is designed to bring transparency and cost efficiency to large infrastructure projects in the power sector. Through this process, developers compete to offer the most competitive tariffs, ensuring that the final project cost remains economical while maintaining technical and operational standards.

The proposed battery energy storage system will play an important role in stabilizing the regional grid and supporting renewable energy integration. As India continues to expand its solar and wind power capacity, the need for energy storage has become increasingly critical. Renewable energy sources are intermittent by nature, meaning power generation can fluctuate depending on weather conditions. Battery storage systems help balance supply and demand by storing excess electricity when generation is high and releasing it when demand increases or generation drops.

The 1000 MWh BESS project in Patiala is expected to significantly improve grid reliability and flexibility. By storing electricity during periods of surplus renewable generation and supplying it during peak demand hours, the system will help ensure a stable and continuous power supply for both industrial and residential consumers in the region. Projects like this are becoming an important part of India’s strategy to maintain grid stability while increasing the share of clean energy in the power mix.

Interested bidders can access the tender documents through the PRANIT Portal under RFX Number 5002005165. The tender has been categorized as an open tender for works under the power and energy sector. Although the project will be located in Punjab, the tender is being administered from POWERGRID’s corporate office in Gurugram, Haryana.

According to the tender summary, no upfront tender fee or Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) has been specified at the initial stage, with both listed as zero. However, developers are advised to carefully review the detailed tender documents and pre-qualification criteria available on the PRANIT portal. These documents may include specific requirements related to the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG), which is typically mandatory in projects of this scale. The PBG is generally calculated based on project capacity and ensures that the selected developer fulfills construction and operational commitments.

The bidding timeline has already begun, with the sale of tender documents and submission of bids starting on March 6, 2026. The document sale period will remain open until March 18, 2026, while the deadline for bid submission is March 20, 2026 at 11:00 AM. The bid opening is scheduled for the same day at 11:30 AM.

The tender process is being overseen by Prashant Verma, Engineer (CS) at the POWERGRID corporate office in Gurugram. Once implemented, the large-scale battery storage system is expected to strengthen Punjab’s power infrastructure and contribute to India’s broader clean energy transition by enabling more reliable integration of renewable energy into the grid.