The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has invited global bids for setting up giga-scale Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery manufacturing facilities in India under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for ACC Battery Storage. The new tender aims to establish a cumulative manufacturing capacity of 10 gigawatt-hours (GWh) dedicated to Grid-Scale Stationary Storage applications, supporting India’s growing energy storage requirements.
According to the Request for Proposal (RfP), the bidding process will be conducted through a global competitive tender on the Central Public Procurement Portal. The ministry has adopted a transparent two-stage Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) process to identify eligible beneficiaries. This approach is expected to ensure that selected manufacturers meet both technical and financial requirements while promoting high-quality battery manufacturing in the country.
The tender schedule has also been announced. The bidding documents became available online on July 15, 2026. A pre-bid conference will be held on July 29, 2026, allowing prospective bidders to seek clarifications regarding the tender conditions and technical requirements. The last date for submission of online bids is October 13, 2026, while the opening of technical bids is scheduled for October 14, 2026. Following the technical evaluation, the financial assessment and selection process will be carried out as per the prescribed guidelines.
The latest tender is part of the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage, which was approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2021. The programme was launched with a financial outlay of ₹18,100 crore under the PLI Scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of advanced battery technologies. The initiative aims to establish a total manufacturing capacity of 50 GWh of ACC batteries in India while reducing the country’s dependence on imported battery cells.
Before the release of this tender, the government had already awarded manufacturing capacity of 40 GWh to selected domestic manufacturers under the scheme. The remaining 10 GWh capacity has now been earmarked specifically for grid-scale stationary energy storage applications.
The focus on grid-scale storage reflects India’s increasing need for reliable energy storage systems as renewable energy capacity continues to expand. Large-scale battery storage plays a critical role in balancing electricity supply and demand, integrating solar and wind power into the grid, and improving overall grid reliability. The government expects the new manufacturing capacity to support India’s clean energy transition while strengthening domestic battery manufacturing capabilities.
The initiative is also expected to attract investments from both domestic and international companies, encourage technology development, create employment opportunities, and build a globally competitive ACC battery manufacturing ecosystem in India. In the long term, the programme is expected to enhance energy security, reduce import dependence, and support the country’s renewable energy and net-zero ambitions.
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