SECI Awards 1 GW/2 GWh BESS Project to JSW And Reliance

SECI has announced that JSW Neo Energy and Reliance Power are the successful bidders for 1,000 MW/2,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS), under tariff-based global competitive bidding.

Both companies were awarded an equal capacity of 500 MW/1,000 MWh. JSW Neo Energy quoted a tariff of Rs. 381,000/MW per month, and Reliance Power quoted a tariff of Rs. 381,999/MW per month. The discovered tariff of INR 3.81 lacs/MW/month is a steep drop from SECI’s first standalone BESS tender that had attracted bids at INR10.83 lac/MW/month. However, it is just above GUVNL’s recent Phase 3 tender that attracted bids at Rs 3.72 lacs/MW/month. GUVNL’s Phase 2 tender had attracted bids at Rs 4.49 lacs/MW/month.

These developers will now undertake the task of building Battery Energy Storage System Developers (BESSD). They are required to set up a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with the primary objective of making the energy storage facility available to the Buying Entities for charging/discharging the BESS on an “on-demand” basis. The tender also marks Reliance’s formal entry into the solar market.

SECI, in its tender, also specified the delivery point for the successful bidders of the project as the 400kV Fatehgarh (ATL) PS in Rajasthan. The project should be designed for interconnection with the ISTS network per prevailing CERC regulations.

Connectivity with the Grid

The tender document adds, “The minimum voltage for interconnection at the ISTS is 400 kV. BESSD is expected to also comply with the requirements mentioned in the First Time Charging (FTC) regulations/rules issued by the Government, as amended from time to time.”

The BESSDs are required to apply for connectivity at the identified substation within 30 days of the effective date of BESPAs. At least 30 days before the proposed commissioning date, the BESSD must submit the Connection Agreement signed with the CTU.