NHPC Floats 1.2 GW Solar Tender With 600 MWh ESS

NHPC has issued a tender to develop a 1.2 GW solar project with a 600/2400 MWh energy storage system. It is open to accepting bids till April 24, 2025.

NHPC, in its tender, mentioned that the project should include an energy storage system (ESS) of at least 0.5 MW/2 MWh capacity for each 1 MW of Contracted Capacity, which must be installed as part of the project. It also clarified that an ESS charged using a source other than solar power (except up to 5%, as per the provisions of the document) would not qualify as solar power.

NHPC also stated that, as per the energy storage project tender, bidders are permitted to source up to 5% renewable energy (RE) power annually from green market sources or bilateral agreements to meet the supply conditions stipulated in the RfS/PPA.

The tender also stated, “The ESS may be owned by the solar power generator (SPG) or procured separately from a third party by the SPG for power supply. The ESS technology can be changed by the SPG at any time during the term of the PPA. Any change in the ESS component during the PPA term shall be at the risk and cost of the SPG and must be communicated to NHPC.”

Scope of Work

NHPC, in its tender, set the minimum project size at 50 MW (with a minimum ESS component of 25 MW/100 MWh) and allowed increments in multiples of 10 MW thereafter under the open category. It added, “The cumulative capacity offered should not exceed 600 MW (with a minimum ESS component of 300 MW/1200 MWh) without the “Greenshoe Option”.

Whereas, for a bidder with the “Greenshoe Option the tender has set a minimum ESS component of 600 MW/2400 MWh. For projects located in the North-Eastern States and Special Category regions, the tender set the minimum quantum of Contracted Capacity that can be offered by a bidder—including its Parent, Affiliate, Ultimate Parent, or any Group Company—at 30 MW (with a minimum ESS component of 15 MW/60 MWh).