JSW Renew Energy Wins Big SECI Tender for BESS

SECI Looks for Developers for Setting Up 2000 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Projects

In a major development, JSW Renew Energy Five Limited, a special purpose vehicle of JSW Energy- is amongst India’s leading private sector power producing companies, has won a battery storage auction by SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India). The auction was for the establishment of pilot projects entailing 500MW/1000 MWh standalone BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), all under the BOOT model (Build, Own, Operate & Transfer). JSW’s winning bid was at Rs 10.84 lakh per MW. The tender, easily one of the largest such tenders worldwide, will be a vital test of the right energy storage options for Indian conditions, besides serving as a template for adding the share of renewable energy to the grid.

The highest quote received was Rs 22.9 lakhs/MW. The other bidders included Acme Barmer Solar, NTPC Renewable Energy, ReNew Solar Power, Azure Power Sixty Three among others.

SECI had issued the RFS for the project in April this year. The PSU had announced that the project, an initiative by the MNRE and the Ministry of Power, is to be commissioned within a period of 18 months from the time of the signing of the agreement. The auction followed a mandate to discoms to start adding storage along with renewable sourcing in India.

The location of the projects will be close to Fatehgarh-III substations (400/220 kV) that are connected to the ISTS network of Rajasthan.

The Government of India had given its green signal to invite an expression of interest for the installation of 1 GWh BESS pilot project,

The tender by SECI is poised to dictate the future bids in India’s renewable sector.