NTPC REL Nokhra: 300 MW Solar EPC + 1,200 MWh BESS Tenders in Rajasthan (June 2026)

Key Takeaways

• Agency: NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL)
• Location: Nokhra Solar Plant, Rajasthan
• Solar EPC: 300 MW grid-connected solar PV — bid deadline June 22, 2026
• BESS EPC: 300 MW / 1,200 MWh ISTS-connected BESS — bid deadline July 9, 2026
• EMD (both tenders): Rs 20 crore each
• BESS design life: 25 years, minimum 10,000 cycles
• BESS O&M: 15 years post-commissioning
• BESS financial eligibility: Rs 198 crore annual turnover (3-year average)

What Are These Tenders?

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has simultaneously issued two related tenders for its Nokhra Solar Plant in Rajasthan:

1. A 300 MW Solar EPC tender (IFB issued June 3–4, 2026, bid deadline June 22, 2026)
2. A 300 MW/1,200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) EPC tender (issued June 15–16, 2026, bid deadline July 9, 2026)

Together, these two tenders will transform the Nokhra site into a 300 MW solar plant paired with 300 MW/1,200 MWh of grid-scale battery storage — a fully integrated solar-plus-storage facility capable of delivering firm power during both solar generation hours and the evening peak demand period.

The Nokhra development is part of NTPC REL's aggressive Rajasthan solar expansion in 2026, which also includes the 550 MW solar EPC at Shimbhoo Ka Burj and the 240 MW/960 MWh BESS at Devikot. Together, NTPC REL's Rajasthan pipeline in mid-2026 represents approximately 1,100 MW of new solar and over 2,160 MWh of new BESS — one of the largest single-company renewable energy development programmes in any Indian state in 2026.

Tender 1: 300 MW Solar EPC at Nokhra

The 300 MW solar EPC scope at Nokhra mirrors NTPC REL's other 2026 Rajasthan solar tenders — comprehensive turnkey delivery including solar modules, mounting structures (likely tracker-based), electrical balance of system, and 3 years of O&M from commissioning.

NTPC REL's Nokhra site follows the completion of its 245 MW Nokh solar project in Rajasthan, demonstrating the company's track record of scaling solar development across multiple Rajasthan sites.

Tender 2: 300 MW/1,200 MWh BESS EPC at Nokhra

This is the more technically complex of the two tenders. NTPC REL issued the BESS EPC tender on June 15–16, 2026, with a bid deadline of July 9, 2026.

Capacity and Configuration

At 300 MW/1,200 MWh, the Nokhra BESS is 25% larger than the Devikot project (240 MW/960 MWh) that NTPC REL tendered in the same period. Together, NTPC REL's Rajasthan BESS pipeline in June 2026 totals 540 MW/2,160 MWh — a scale of battery procurement rivalled only by GUVNL's Gujarat BESS programme.

The 4-hour storage duration is consistent with other large NTPC REL and SECI storage tenders in 2026, allowing peak evening dispatch (6–10 PM) from afternoon solar generation.

Bidding Timeline

Financial Eligibility

The Rs 198 crore turnover threshold is higher than the Rs 159 crore requirement for the 240 MW/960 MWh Devikot tender, proportionate to the larger 1,200 MWh capacity.

Performance Requirements

NTPC REL's 15-year O&M requirement for the BESS (vs 3 years for the solar EPC) reflects the longer operational complexity of battery systems — battery replacement cycles, performance degradation management, and system integration with the solar plant require sustained specialized expertise.

Why NTPC REL Is Scaling So Aggressively in Rajasthan

NTPC REL has committed to achieving 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032 — a target that requires adding approximately 7 GW per year over 8 years. Rajasthan is the strategic anchor for this ambition:

Solar resource: Rajasthan's GHI of 5.5–6.2 kWh/m2/day is the best in India, directly translating to higher plant load factors (PLF) and better project economics for the same capital investment.

Land availability: Government wasteland in Rajasthan's desert districts (Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Nagaur) is available at minimal cost, eliminating the biggest bottleneck for large-scale solar development.

Transmission infrastructure: Rajasthan has invested heavily in green energy corridors specifically designed to evacuate western Rajasthan's solar and wind generation to the national grid. ISTS connectivity for large projects like Nokhra is more accessible than in states with less developed transmission networks.

EPC ecosystem: The concentration of large-scale solar projects in Rajasthan has created a mature local EPC ecosystem — experienced contractors, trained workforces, specialized logistics for solar equipment — that reduces project execution risk.

NTPC REL's simultaneous issuance of the 550 MW Shimbhoo Ka Burj solar EPC, the 240 MW/960 MWh Devikot BESS, and the 300 MW solar + 300 MW/1,200 MWh BESS at Nokhra in June 2026 represents one of the most concentrated renewable energy procurement exercises by any single entity in Indian history.

NTPC REL's Rajasthan Pipeline (June 2026 Summary)

For EPC companies with the financial scale and technical capability to participate, NTPC REL's June 2026 Rajasthan procurement represents an extraordinary pipeline of concurrent opportunities across four separate tenders.

What This Means for Industrial Solar Buyers

For industrial and commercial solar buyers, NTPC REL's aggressive Rajasthan build-out has several indirect benefits:

EPC supply chain deepening: When major players like L&T, Tata Power Solar, and other large EPC companies are bidding for 300–550 MW NTPC REL contracts, they sharpen their module procurement, project management, and O&M capabilities. This expertise flows into smaller private sector projects as well — improving quality and reducing costs for industrial captive solar buyers.

Storage technology maturity: NTPC REL's 1,200 MWh BESS at Nokhra will accelerate the development and testing of battery technologies in Indian operating conditions. Learnings from these large deployments inform commercial decisions for industrial-scale behind-the-meter storage systems (50–500 kWh range).

Grid stability: As NTPC REL commissions GWh-scale storage in Rajasthan, it stabilises the grid for all consumers — including industrial buyers in Haryana, Delhi, and western UP whose grid is increasingly interlinked with Rajasthan's solar generation.

For industrial buyers in the northern India region evaluating solar and storage, see our guides on solar battery storage for industrial use in India and solar EPC company selection in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the combined capacity of NTPC REL's twin Nokhra tenders?

The two tenders together cover 300 MW of solar PV and 300 MW/1,200 MWh of BESS — creating a 300 MW solar plant paired with 4-hour battery storage at the Nokhra site in Rajasthan.

Are these two tenders linked — does the same company need to bid for both?

No — the solar EPC and BESS EPC are separate tenders with separate bid deadlines (June 22 and July 9) and separate EMDs (Rs 20 crore each). Different companies can win each contract. NTPC REL will manage the integration between the solar plant and the BESS through separate project management.

What is the difference between the Nokhra BESS (300 MW/1,200 MWh) and the Devikot BESS (240 MW/960 MWh)?

Both are 4-hour duration BESS projects co-located with existing or new solar plants. The Nokhra project (300 MW/1,200 MWh) is 25% larger than Devikot (240 MW/960 MWh). The Nokhra BESS has a slightly higher financial eligibility threshold (Rs 198 crore vs Rs 159 crore annual turnover) and a later bid deadline (July 9 vs July 13).

What does "ISTS-connected" mean for these projects?

ISTS (Interstate Transmission System) connection means the projects connect to India's national high-voltage grid (typically at 400 kV or 220 kV), allowing power to be sold across state boundaries and to any buyer on the national grid, including NTPC REL's contracted offtakers anywhere in India.

Sources

• NTPC REL Launches Tenders for 300 MW Solar EPC Project and 2 GW Pumped Hydro Storage — PV Magazine India (June 3, 2026)
• NTPC REL Floats Tender for 300 MW/1,200 MWh Battery Energy Storage Project at Rajasthan Solar Plant — SolarQuarter (June 16, 2026)
• NTPC REL Tenders EPC Package for 300 MW/1,200 MWh Battery Storage Project in Rajasthan — PV Magazine India
• NTPC REL Issues EPC Tender for 1.2 GWh Battery Storage Project in Rajasthan — Mercom India
• NTPC Floats EPC Tender for 300 MW Solar PV Project in Rajasthan — Renewable Watch (June 4, 2026)