Madhya Pradesh-based Hardi Hydro Energy has won SJVN’s auction to set up 250 MW/500 MWh of standalone battery energy storage (BESS) systems at the 1,360 MW Panipat thermal power station in Haryana.

Hardi Hydro Energy won the entire tendered capacity by quoting a tariff of ₹197,000 (~$2,174)/MW/month.

The tender was floated in December last year.

The scope of work covers setting up the project, charging and discharging of BESS on a demand basis, construction of the transmission network and the bay up to the interconnection point, and identification and allocation of land for the projects.

Hardi Hydro Energy will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project for 12 years.

The BESS projects must be designed for interconnection with the state transmission utility network and should be located near the 220 kV substation of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPNL).

The BESS will draw power for charging from Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVNL) and supply electricity back to UHBVNL as per dispatch instructions issued by the State Load Dispatch Centre. The system must be charged using renewable energy sources.

The projects will be eligible for viability gap funding (VGF) under the Power System Development Fund, capped at ₹1.8 million (~$19,866)/MWh.

Land for the projects will be provided by UHBVNL or HVPNL on a lease or right-to-use basis.

The BESS must be capable of delivering power for at least two hours and support at least two operational cycles per day.

Hardi Hydro Energy will enter into a 12-year Battery Energy Storage Purchase Agreement with SJVN, effective from the scheduled commissioning date or the commencement of supply, whichever is applicable.

In July last year, Patel Infrastructure and Enerica Infra 3 (EnerGrid) won SJVN’s auction to develop a 375 MW/1,500 MWh standalone BESS in Uttar Pradesh under the build-own-operate model. Patel won 187.5 MW/750 MWh at a tariff of ₹359,000 (~$4,199)/MW/month. Enerica also bagged 187.5 MW/750 MWh at a tariff of ₹359,999 (~$4,211)/MW/month.

Earlier, the Ministry of Power had announced the second tranche of VGF to support BESS development in India. Under this tranche, a VGF of ₹1.8 million (~$19,866)/MWh will be provided to support the development of 30 GWh of BESS capacity.