IndiGrid 2, Kintech Synergy, and H.G. Infra Engineering won NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam’s (NVVN) auction to set up 500 MW/1000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support.

IndiGrid 2 was awarded 250 MW at a tariff of ₹236,999 (~$2,819)/MW/month. Kintech quoted a tariff of ₹237,490 (~$2,825)/MW/month to win 65 MW.

H.G. Infra won 185 MW out of the quoted capacity of 250 MW at a tariff of ₹238,000 (~$2,831)/MW/month under the bucket-filling method.

The project capacity must be connected to either the 765 kV Bhadla-111 PS in Rajasthan or the 400 kV Banaskantha (Radhanesda) PS (GIS) in Gujarat.

The tender was floated in September this year.

The VGF is designated for a total BESS capacity of 4,000 MWh and will be awarded in multiple phases, with this auction representing the first phase.

The BESS must be made available to NVVN for on-demand charging and discharging.

The BESS developer is responsible for setting up and interconnecting the BESS with the ISTS network. The developer can choose the technology for the battery storage system as long as it meets the BESS definition and performance criteria.

If the developer plans to set up multiple projects, each must be distinguishable with separate injection points, control systems, and metering arrangements.

The developer is responsible for all construction costs from the project up to the interconnection point, including transmission lines, maintenance, and all costs to the delivery point.

Maintenance of the transmission system up to the interconnection point is also the developer’s responsibility.

Recently, NVVN floated eight tenders to install 78.637 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems at various locations of the central armed forces and departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In July, NVVN invited bids to develop ground-mounted and rooftop solar photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 12.82 MW across multiple locations in India.

India’s total BESS capacity reached 219.1 MWh as of March 2024, according to Mercom India Research’s newly released report, India’s Energy Storage Landscape.