The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a central PSU under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) to invite bids for setting up 2,000 MW of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected solar PV power projects with co-located energy storage systems (ESS). This strategic initiative aims to enhance grid stability and renewable integration as India continues its clean energy expansion.
The tender, identified as SECI-ISTS-XX, outlines that a total of 1,000 MW / 4,000 MWh of Energy Storage Systems must be developed alongside the 2 GW solar capacity under a tariff-based competitive bidding process.
“The projects shall be located at the locations chosen by the bidder/SPD at its own discretion and cost, risk, and responsibility,” the tender document states.
Key Dates:
- Last Date for Online Bid Submission: July 22, 2025
- Offline Submission Deadline: July 24, 2025
- Bid Opening Date: July 25, 2025
Project Structure:
Bidders have the flexibility to install a single project at multiple locations, provided that each location has its respective delivery point. The ESS must be co-located with the project. In case of multiple sites, at least one ESS must be co-located with one of the solar components.
According to the tender’s special conditions, a minimum of 0.5 MW/2 MWh ESS per 1 MW of solar project is mandatory. The document clearly stipulates that only ESS charged via solar sources will be eligible—charging from any other source will disqualify the power from being considered solar.
Policy Background:
The tender comes amid growing momentum for renewable energy storage infrastructure in India. As per the National Electricity Plan published by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), to achieve the integration of 364 GW solar and 121 GW wind capacity by 2031–32, India would require a robust storage capacity of 411.4 GWh. This includes:
- 26.69 GW / 175.18 GWh from Pumped Storage Projects (PSP)
- 47.24 GW / 236.22 GWh from Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Strategic Significance:
This SECI tender marks a critical step in India’s ambition to balance variable renewable generation with dispatchable storage technologies, particularly in light of increasing RE penetration in the national grid. The co-location requirement will also help reduce transmission infrastructure costs and land use footprint, adding greater viability and efficiency to hybrid solar-storage projects.
For further information and official documents, interested bidders may refer to the SECI website.
| Capacity | Solar PV Capacity: 2,000 MW + Energy Storage Capacity: 1,000 MW / 4,000 MWh |
| Location | India (Pan-India) Exact locations to be chosen by the bidders as per project feasibility and cost optimization. |
| Results | Bid opening scheduled for 25 July 2025, after which evaluation and award announcements will follow. |
