Coal India Limited (CIL) has invited bids for the development of a 187.50 MW / 750 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Choutuppal in Telangana. The tender, issued under Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) Reference No. CIL/HQ/SOLAR/BESS/TGGENCO/EPC/NIT/185, marks another important step in the company’s renewable energy expansion strategy. The project is part of CIL’s long-term goal of developing a cumulative renewable energy capacity of 5 GW by 2028–29, while strengthening grid reliability and supporting the growing integration of renewable energy into India’s power system.
The project will be executed on a complete Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) basis through a lump-sum turnkey contract. The selected contractor will be responsible for the entire project lifecycle, including design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing, civil works, and commissioning of the battery energy storage system at the 400/220 kV Choutuppal Substation.
In addition to the BESS installation, the contractor will also construct 220 kV switchyard evacuation bays and a 220 kV TMDC transmission line up to the point of interconnection under the supervision of TGTRANSCO. The scope of work further includes comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) services for a period of 15 years from the Commercial Operation Declaration (COD), ensuring long-term performance and reliability of the storage facility.
The project is scheduled to be completed within 11 months from the date of the Letter of Award (LOA) or the date on which CIL hands over the project land at Choutuppal, whichever is later. Bidders are required to quote O&M charges amounting to at least 15% of the total EPC cost, with an annual escalation of 3.5% over the maintenance period.
To participate in the tender, bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹50 lakh through online payment modes such as Net Banking or NEFT/RTGS. The successful bidder’s EMD may be adjusted towards the required Performance Security Deposit in accordance with CIL’s tender guidelines.
The tender allows participation from individual companies as well as Joint Ventures comprising up to three members. Eligible applicants can qualify as battery manufacturers, energy storage system integrators or EPC contractors, or developers of grid-connected power projects with a minimum installed capacity of 75 MW. Financial eligibility requires an average annual turnover of at least ₹315.309 crore during the last three financial years ending March 31, 2026, along with a minimum net worth of ₹157.655 crore.
The tender was published on July 31, 2026, under Tender ID 2026_CILHQ_362656. It follows a single-stage, two-part online bidding process consisting of separate technical and financial bids. The bid validity period is 120 days from the final submission deadline. All bid submissions and tender-related activities will be conducted through the official CIL e-procurement portal. The tender also emphasizes compliance with the Government of India’s Make in India policy by extending purchase preference to Class-I local suppliers with a minimum of 50% local content.
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