NTPC Green Energy has invited bids for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of 80 MW/320 MWh battery energy storage systems (BESS) at Kerala State Electricity Board’s Pothencode and Sreekantapuram substations.

The last day to submit the bids is September 16, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same day.

The project is divided into two blocks as follows:

• Block-1: 40 MW/160 MWh at KSEB Pothencode
• Block-2: 40 MW/160 MWh at KSEB Sreekantapuram

Bidders can bid for one block or both blocks. The earnest money deposit for one block is ₹20 million (~$230,000) and ₹50 million (~$575,000) for both blocks.

Bidders should have manufactured and supplied batteries of a minimum cumulative capacity of 80 MWh for grid-connected BESS, with at least one supply order of a minimum 20 MWh capacity. The reference system of 20 MWh or more must have operated for at least six months before the bid opening date.

Alternatively, bidders should have supplied, installed, or supervised installation, and commissioned or supervised commissioning of grid-connected BESS with a cumulative installed capacity of at least 80 MWh, including at least one system of 20 MWh or higher, which must have operated for at least six months before bid opening.

Another option is that the bidders should have designed, supplied, erected or supervised erection, and commissioned or supervised commissioning of grid-connected solar or wind power projects with a cumulative installed capacity of 40 MW or more, including at least one project of 10 MW.

Indian bidders may also qualify if they have a technical collaboration agreement or a valid manufacturing license with a battery manufacturer meeting the requirements above, or if they are a joint venture company with such a manufacturer. In such cases, the collaboration or license agreement must remain valid for at least 12 years from the bid submission date.

Alternatively, bidders may qualify if they have executed an industrial project in power, steel, oil and gas, petrochemicals, fertilizers, cement, or another process industry worth ₹981 million (~$11.28 million) in the last ten years.

In addition, the bidders should have executed at least one electrical substation of 33kV or higher voltage level, with equipment such as circuit breakers and power transformers, which must have operated for at least one year or six months in the renewable sector.

They must also have an average annual turnover of ₹981 million (~$11.28 million) during the last three years. Their net worth as on the last day of the preceding financial year should not be less than 100% of their paid-up share capital.

In July, NTPC Green Energy won the auction to develop the 40 MW/160 MWh BESS capacity at the Sreekantapuram substation at a tariff of ₹434,000 (~$4,953.21)/MW/month. It also won the 40 MW/160 MWh at the Pothencode substation at a tariff of ₹457,000 (~$5,215.70)/MW/month.

India installed over 341 MWh of BESS in 2024, marking an over sixfold increase from the 51 MWh installed in 2023, according to Mercom India Research’s India’s Energy Storage Landscape report.