The Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) has announced the winners of the 500 MW/1,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) auction.

Stockwell Solar won 150 MW/300 MWh at a tariff of ₹335,000 (~$3,499.43)/MW/month, and Rama Reflection India won 250 MW/500 MWh at a tariff of ₹344,000 (~$3,593.44)/MW/month.

Ceigall India secured 100 MW/200 MWh out of the quoted 500 MW/1,000 MWh at a tariff of ₹344,000 (~$3,593.44)/MW/month under the bucket-filling method.

Successful bidders must set up 250 MW/500 MWh BESS at each of the Ablowal and Laltonkalan substations.

The tender was floated in January this year.

Successful bidders must set up BESS to make stored power available to PSPCL for charging and discharging as needed.

Successful bidders must bear the full cost of the transmission infrastructure from the project site to the interconnection point, including the costs of constructing a new bay at PSPCL/Punjab State Transmission Corporation (PSTCL), busbar extension or augmentation, protection relay augmentation, and the installation of a protection and control panel.

Selected bidders must also bear all operation and maintenance costs of the projects and all costs up to the delivery point.

The BESS will be charged by drawing power from the PSPCL/PSTCL network and discharged by injecting power into the network in accordance with dispatch instructions issued by the state load dispatch center (SLDC).

The battery energy storage systems must also meet fire-safety standards and maintain noise levels below 80 decibels.

PSPCL/PSTCL will provide land for the BESS projects on a lease or right-to-use basis, at an annual lease charge of ₹1 (~$0.011)/acre.

The projects must be designed for two operational cycles per day and capable of discharging power during any 15-minute time block, as per the SLDC-provided schedules.

The BESS must ensure a minimum monthly system availability of 95% and an AC-to-AC round-trip efficiency of at least 85%. Selected bidders must declare round-trip efficiency on a day-ahead basis.

The project must be capable of operating in the 47.5 Hz to 52 Hz frequency range and deliver the rated output in both charging and discharging modes within the 49.5 Hz to 50.5 Hz range. It must also operate under voltage dips or rises at the interconnection point.

The project must provide dynamically variable reactive power support, primary frequency control with adjustable droop, and an immediate real-power response of at least 10% of maximum capacity within one second for frequency deviations greater than 0.3 Hz.

Successful bidders will sign a battery energy storage purchase agreement (BESPA) for 12 years from the scheduled commissioning date.

Successful bidders must either ensure a separate metered connection for auxiliary power from the PSPCL’s divisional commissioner’s office or obtain free power from the interconnection point using a dedicated meter.

The projects must be commissioned within 18 months of signing the BESPA. The maximum allowable project extension, including liquidated damages, is nine months. The projects must achieve financial closure within six months of signing the BESPA.

In March this year, PSPCL invited bids to set up 500 MW/1,000 MWh battery energy storage systems in Mohali and Jalandhar.

Earlier, PSPCL  issued a request for selection to set up a 250 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage system in Bhatinda, Punjab.