NHPC has issued a tender to develop 125 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) connected to the intrastate transmission system in Kerala (Tranche I).

Developers will be eligible for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹2.7 million (~$32,114)/MWh or 30% of the project’s capital cost, whichever is lower.

Bids must be submitted by February 14, 2025. Bids will be opened on February 19.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit ₹341,000 (~$3,940)/MWh.

Bidders must pay a processing fee based on cumulative capacity:

• ₹300,000 (~$3,465) + 18% GST for 40 MWh
• ₹500,000 (~$5,776) + 18% GST for above 40 MWh and up to 100 MWh
• ₹1 million (~$11,555) + 18% GST for above 100 MWh and up to 250 MWh
• ₹2 million (~$23,110) + 18% GST for above 250 MWh and up to 500 MWh

Selected bidders must furnish a performance bank guarantee of ₹852,500  (~$9,850)/MWh.

Successful bidders must commission the projects within 18 months of signing the battery energy storage purchase agreement.

They must provide a payment security deposit of ₹500,000 (~$5,776)/MWh to NHPC before declaring the commissioning of the project’s first part capacity.

Successful bidders must ensure the BESS is available for at least one operational cycle per day, maintain a minimum monthly system availability of 95%, and guarantee an AC-to-AC roundtrip efficiency of 85% monthly.

Kerala State Electricity Board is expected to prioritize renewable energy sources for BESS charging.

Successful bidders must employ commercially established and operational technologies compliant with the guidelines specified codes and standards to minimize technology risks.

Eligible projects include those under construction or not yet commissioned, provided they are not part of other central or state programs.

Bidders must have a minimum net worth of ₹3.4 million (~$39,284)/MWh of the quoted capacity during the last financial year’s end or seven days before the bid submission deadline.

Recently, NHPC issued tenders for a cumulative capacity of 39.73 MW grid-connected rooftop solar projects under the renewable energy service company mode in Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir.

In December 2024, NHPC invited bids to install a cumulative capacity of 1,098 kW of rooftop solar power projects on buildings across its North-East Power Stations under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana.