NTPC Green Floats BESS Tender for Bikaner Solar Project

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) has invited bids for setting up 1,950 MW/7,800 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity at NTPC Renewable Energy Limited’s (NTPC REL) solar project in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The tender was issued on May 29, 2026, and bids can be submitted until June 25, 2026.

The project will be awarded through a Single Stage Two Envelope bidding process, under which bidders will submit separate techno-commercial and price bids. The selection process will be conducted through online bidding followed by a reverse auction.

Five BESS Blocks Planned

The 7,800 MWh storage project has been divided into five blocks at the Bikaner solar plant in Rajasthan.

Block-1 (PSS-1): 500 MW / 2,000 MWh battery energy storage capacity
Block-2 (PSS-2): 550 MW / 2,200 MWh battery energy storage capacity
Block-3 (PSS-3): 300 MW / 1,200 MWh battery energy storage capacity
Block-4 (PSS-3): 300 MW / 1,200 MWh battery energy storage capacity
Block-5 (PSS-3): 300 MW / 1,200 MWh battery energy storage capacity
Total Project Capacity: 1,950 MW / 7,800 MWh
Grid Connectivity: All five BESS blocks will be connected at the 33 kV level of the designated solar power plants.

Scope of EPC Work

The winning bidder will be required to complete all aspects of the design, engineering, procurement, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of the energy storage systems. The scope also includes integration of the BESS with the existing solar plants and grid infrastructure.

The project requires batteries with a minimum design life of 25 years and at least 10,000 operating cycles. The bidder will also be responsible for comprehensive operation and maintenance of the storage systems for 15 years.

Performance Requirements

NGEL has specified that the BESS must maintain a minimum monthly round-trip efficiency of 80%, including auxiliary consumption. Annual availability of the system must be maintained at 98%.

The bidder must guarantee a minimum dispatchable capacity of 92% at the point of interconnection over a period of 15 years. The system must start with 100% rated dispatchable capacity at commissioning and maintain 95% capacity during the first year of operation. Any augmentation required to meet these performance levels will be the responsibility of the bidder.

NGEL has also stated that the installed nameplate capacity of each BESS block must be at least 110% of the specified storage capacity to account for degradation and operational losses over time.

Technical and Grid Integration Requirements

The scope includes grid compliance studies, power quality compliance, EMS integration, fire safety systems, auxiliary power arrangements and integration with the owner’s 33 kV pooling switchgear. The BESS must comply with the latest guidelines issued by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and load dispatch centres.

The storage systems will initially operate with grid charging capability and will also have provisions for integration with solar plants in the future. The bidder will also be responsible for training personnel, conducting performance tests and providing all required engineering documentation.

Bid Timeline

Bidding documents will be available for download from June 5, 2026, to June 15, 2026. The last date for submission of both techno-commercial and price bids is June 25, 2026, up to 3:00 PM. Techno-commercial bids will be opened on the same day at 3:30 PM.

The Bikaner Solar project’s BESS project is part of NTPC Green Energy Limited’s plans to add large-scale battery storage capacity alongside its renewable energy assets. Once completed, the 1,950 MW/7,800 MWh BESS facility will be among the larger battery energy storage projects planned in the country.