West Bengal Issues Landmark 250 MW / 1,000 MWh BESS Tender at Goaltore — State Seeks “On-Demand” Grid Storage with Greenshoe Option

West Bengal’s Department of Power, on behalf of WBSEDCL, has launched a high-profile tariff-based competitive RfS to procure a 250 MW / 1,000 MWh standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be sited at the Goaltore substation in Paschim Midnapore. The Build-Own-Operate (BOO) tender—RfS No. 1484-PO/O/C-VI/3M-05/2025, dated 10 October 2025 — targets utility-grade, 4-hour duration storage to be used by WBSEDCL on an “on-demand” basis and includes a Green-shoe option for an additional identical capacity.

Quick snapshot—what the tender seeks

• Capacity & configuration: 250 MW power rating with 1,000 MWh dispatchable energy (250 MW × 4 hours). Project to be treated as embedded in WBSEDCL’s distribution network at the Goaltore substation.
• Model: Build-Own-Operate (BOO) under tariff-based competitive bidding; selection through single-stage, two-envelope e-tender followed by e-reverse auction.
• Greenshoe option: WBSEDCL may offer an extra 250 MW / 1,000 MWh at L1 rates; the successful bidder must accept/reject within the prescribed timeframe.

Key commercial and schedule milestones

• RfS date & reference: Issued 10 Oct 2025, RfS No. 1484-PO/O/C-VI/3M-05/2025.
• Document fee & processing: RfS cost ₹500,000 + 18% GST; document processing fee ₹2,500 + 18% GST.
• EMD & PBG: Earnest Money Deposit set at ₹2.08 lakh / MWh (for 250 MW/1,000 MWh) to be submitted as BG; Performance Bank Guarantee required at ₹5.2 lakh / MWh prior to BESPA signing (returned 45 days after COD subject to adjustments).
• Timelines: The Bid submission window opens 10 Oct 2025; the last date for online submission is 14 Nov 2025 (a detailed timeline including e-RA and LoA issuance is provided in the RfS). Scheduled Commissioning Date (SCD)—18 months from the BESPA effective date. Financial closure is required within 9 months of the BESPA effective date.

Technical & performance obligations—what bidders must guarantee

• Operational cycle and duration: BESS must support one full charge–discharge cycle per day with a minimum 4-hour discharge at rated power; charging/discharging scheduling is by WBSEDCL.
• Round-Trip Efficiency (RtE): Guaranteed AC-to-AC RtE is 90% (monthly basis); penalties apply for underperformance—severe shortfalls (RtE < 70%) can lead to non-payment and LDs.
• Availability: Minimum monthly system availability 95%; shortfalls attract liquidated damages equal to twice the capacity charges for the unavailable capacity.
• Degradation & minimum dispatchable energy: The RfS prescribes an annual degradation schedule (e.g., 97.5% dispatchable at Year-1 down to 70% by Years 12–15) and corresponding minimum energy obligations.

Other notable provisions

• Land & connectivity: WBSEDCL will provide land on Right-of-Use at the Goaltore site; the BESS developer must build dedicated evacuation up to the delivery point (132 kV bus) and bear related costs.
• Part-commissioning allowed: The project may be commissioned in two equal installments (125 MW / 500 MWh each) with defined timelines and LD schedules.
• Bid submission mechanics: Online submissions via the TCIL e-tender portal; BG for EMD must be submitted both online and physically (with strict lead times). Failure to follow submission rules may lead to bid rejection.

The Goaltore RfS is a substantial state-level push for long-duration storage in eastern India—structured to enforce tight performance guarantees (90% RtE, 95% availability) and to attract credible developers capable of rapid delivery under BOO. The Greenshoe option and robust financial safeguards (EMD/PBG) signal WBSEDCL’s intent to lock in scale while protecting consumers and the grid from underperforming assets.

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