Key Takeaways
- Agency: NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL)
- Project: 240 MW / 960 MWh ISTS-connected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
- Location: Devikot Solar Plant, Rajasthan
- Pre-bid conference: June 29, 2026
- Bid submission deadline: July 13, 2026
- EMD: Rs 20 crore
- Minimum annual turnover: Rs 159 crore (Rs 1.59 billion)
- Design life: 25 years
- O&M scope: 15 years
- Battery performance: 10,000+ cycles, 80%+ monthly round-trip efficiency, 98% availability
What Is This Tender?
NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has issued an invitation for bids to develop a 240 MW/960 MWh Interstate Transmission System (ISTS)-connected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at its existing Devikot Solar Plant in Rajasthan.
This is one of the largest standalone grid-scale battery storage tenders issued by a single public sector entity in India in 2026. At 960 MWh, the project will significantly enhance the Devikot solar plant's ability to dispatch power during peak demand hours — effectively converting what is currently a pure solar generation asset into a partially dispatchable solar-plus-storage facility.
The tender comes at a pivotal moment for India's energy storage market. India added approximately 4.6 GWh of battery energy storage in Q1 2026 alone — reflecting a massive acceleration in BESS deployment driven by falling battery prices, regulatory mandates for storage with new renewable projects, and the grid integration requirements of India's rapidly growing solar fleet.
NTPC REL's concurrent issue of this 960 MWh BESS tender and the 550 MW solar EPC tender (Shimbhoo Ka Burj, Rajasthan) positions the company as one of the most active renewable energy plus storage developers in India in mid-2026.
Project Specifications
Capacity and Configuration
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| AC power rating | 240 MW |
| Energy storage capacity | 960 MWh |
| Storage duration | 4 hours (960 MWh / 240 MW) |
| Minimum installed nameplate capacity | 1,060 MWh |
| Grid connection | ISTS-connected (interstate transmission) |
The 1,060 MWh minimum nameplate capacity requirement (versus the 960 MWh contracted capacity) means NTPC REL requires a capacity buffer — ensuring that even after some battery degradation, the system can still deliver the full 960 MWh contracted output over the 15-year O&M period.
The 4-hour storage duration at 240 MW means the BESS can deliver 240 MW of power for 4 consecutive hours — covering most of the evening peak demand window (approximately 6 PM to 10 PM) from solar energy generated and stored during the afternoon.
Performance Guarantees
NTPC REL has set demanding performance standards for this project:
| Performance Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Battery design life | 25 years |
| Minimum operating cycles | 10,000 cycles |
| Monthly round-trip efficiency | Minimum 80% |
| Monthly availability | 98% |
| Dispatchable capacity guarantee | 98% over first 15 years |
The 10,000 cycle requirement at 25-year design life implies approximately 400 cycles per year — roughly daily cycling. This is consistent with a battery system used primarily for daily solar storage and evening dispatch rather than more frequent intraday cycling.
The 80% minimum monthly round-trip efficiency means that for every 100 MWh charged into the battery, at least 80 MWh must be dispatchable — accounting for charging losses, standing losses, and discharging losses.
EPC Scope of Work
The successful bidder takes full responsibility for the complete BESS project:
Engineering and design:
- System architecture design for 240 MW/960 MWh BESS
- Grid integration design for ISTS connection at Devikot
- Civil and electrical auxiliary works
Procurement and supply:
- Battery cells and modules from qualifying manufacturers
- Battery Management System (BMS)
- Power Conversion System (PCS) / inverters
- Transformers and switchgear
- SCADA and energy management systems
Installation and commissioning:
- Transportation to Devikot, Rajasthan
- Installation and integration with existing Devikot solar plant
- Grid compliance studies and testing
- Full system commissioning and performance testing
Operations and maintenance:
- 15-year O&M from commissioning date
- Performance guarantee maintenance (98% dispatchable capacity for 15 years)
- Battery replacement as needed during O&M period to maintain performance
Eligibility Criteria
Financial Qualifications
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum average annual turnover (3 years) | Rs 159 crore (Rs 1.59 billion) |
| Minimum net worth | Equal to paid-up share capital |
| Bid security (EMD) | Rs 20 crore |
Technical Qualifications
For battery suppliers: Must have delivered at least 80 MWh of grid-interactive battery energy storage systems, including at least one project of 20 MWh or more that has been operational for a minimum of six months.
For EPC contractors: Must demonstrate minimum project execution experience of Rs 159 crore (Rs 1.59 billion).
The battery supplier track record requirement — specifically mandating a 20+ MWh operational project for at least 6 months — is designed to filter for proven suppliers rather than first-time entrants. This specification is achievable for major lithium-ion battery suppliers and system integrators operating in India, including Amara Raja, Exide Industries (through its Advanced Chemistry Cell JV), BYD, CATL, and established system integrators with installed projects.
Bidding Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Pre-bid conference | June 29, 2026 |
| Bid submission deadline | July 13, 2026 |
| Bidding process | Single-stage two-envelope, then reverse auction |
The pre-bid conference on June 29 is a critical event for prospective bidders — NTPC REL will clarify technical specifications, battery technology requirements, performance testing methodology, and O&M obligations. Questions submitted before the conference will be answered through addenda to the bid documents.
Why Devikot? The Rajasthan BESS Opportunity
Devikot is in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district — the heart of India's solar and wind renewable energy development zone. NTPC REL has significant solar and wind capacity at Devikot and the surrounding Fatehgarh/Devikot corridor.
Adding 960 MWh of BESS at Devikot creates a co-located solar-plus-storage system with several operational advantages:
- Reduced transmission costs: Solar generation and storage are co-located, minimising intra-project transmission losses
- Shared grid infrastructure: The existing ISTS connection at Devikot solar plant can support both solar export and BESS export without building new transmission assets
- Optimised dispatch: A co-located energy management system can optimise when to store and when to dispatch based on real-time grid conditions and market prices
This co-location strategy — pairing large BESS with existing solar plants rather than building greenfield standalone storage — is increasingly common in India's storage tender landscape and reflects the operational and cost efficiency of integrated projects.
India's BESS Boom: 2026 Context
This NTPC REL 960 MWh BESS tender is part of a much larger wave of battery storage procurement in India in 2026:
- India added 4.6 GWh of BESS in Q1 2026 alone — the highest quarterly addition ever
- GUVNL's 500 MW/1,000 MWh BESS auction was won by Solarworld and H.G. Infra in 2026
- NTPC has separately tendered a 3,200 MWh BESS project at Fatehgarh in Rajasthan
- SECI's storage tenders (including the CfD tender requiring peak-hour dispatch) are driving storage-backed renewable procurement nationally
- State mandates (Maharashtra's storage mandate for new solar projects) are creating demand for behind-the-meter storage alongside utility-scale deployments
The Devikot 960 MWh project will contribute to this rapidly growing BESS fleet and supports India's grid management as solar capacity approaches and exceeds 200 GW.
What This Means for Industrial Solar Buyers
For industrial solar buyers, this NTPC REL BESS tender signals important market trends:
Storage costs are falling: Large-scale BESS projects like this one — competitively bid through reverse auction — will continue driving down battery storage costs. Behind-the-meter storage for industrial consumers follows the same cost trajectory, making solar-plus-storage increasingly viable for businesses with evening or 24-hour electricity needs.
Proven technology pathway: NTPC REL's strict performance requirements (10,000 cycles, 25-year design life, 98% availability) establish performance benchmarks that technology suppliers must meet. Industrial buyers can reference these specifications when evaluating commercial BESS systems for their own facilities.
Grid reliability improvement: Large-scale grid storage deployments at Devikot and across Rajasthan improve grid frequency stability and reduce curtailment of renewable energy — creating a more reliable grid environment for all consumers, including industrial buyers with captive or open-access solar.
For industrial buyers in the Delhi-NCR and Haryana region exploring solar-plus-storage options for their facilities, our guides on solar battery storage for industrial use and DG vs BESS backup power comparison provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating these investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 240 MW/960 MWh mean for a battery storage project?
240 MW is the maximum power output rate — the battery system can deliver up to 240 megawatts of electricity at any moment. 960 MWh is the total energy storage capacity — at full 240 MW output, the battery lasts 4 hours (960 MWh divided by 240 MW = 4 hours). This 4-hour duration covers the typical evening peak demand window.
What is the minimum nameplate capacity requirement and why is it above 960 MWh?
NTPC REL requires a minimum installed nameplate capacity of 1,060 MWh — 100 MWh more than the 960 MWh contracted output. This buffer accounts for battery degradation over time. Battery systems lose capacity gradually with each charge-discharge cycle, so a larger initial nameplate capacity ensures the system can still deliver 960 MWh even after degradation.
What is round-trip efficiency for a battery system?
Round-trip efficiency is the ratio of energy output from a battery to the energy input for charging. An 80% monthly round-trip efficiency means: if 100 MWh of solar energy is used to charge the battery, at least 80 MWh of electricity can be discharged from it. The 20% loss covers charging losses, self-discharge, inverter losses, and auxiliary consumption.
How does this project integrate with the existing Devikot Solar Plant?
The BESS will be co-located with the existing Devikot solar plant and connected to the same ISTS grid connection point. This allows solar generation to be routed directly into the battery for storage during peak generation hours and dispatched to the grid during peak demand hours, without additional transmission infrastructure costs.
Can medium-sized EPC companies participate in this tender?
The Rs 159 crore (Rs 1.59 billion) minimum average annual turnover qualification and Rs 20 crore EMD make this tender accessible only to established BESS system integrators and large EPC companies with battery storage experience. Companies without a 20+ MWh operational BESS track record will not qualify. Smaller companies can participate as subcontractors to qualifying lead bidders.
Sources
- NTPC REL Invites Bids for 960 MWh Battery Storage Project in Rajasthan — Saurenergy
- NTPC REL Issue Tender for 960 MWh Battery Storage Project in Rajasthan — EQ Magazine
- Top Stories Of The Day: NTPC Floats 960 MWh BESS Tender — SolarQuarter (June 19, 2026)
- NTPC REL Floats EPC Tender For 550 MW Solar PV Project In Rajasthan — SolarQuarter
- Solar Battery Storage for Industrial Use in India
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