NTPC Green Energy Limited Issues EPC Tender for 1,950 MW / 7,800 MWh BESS Capacity in Bikaner, Rajasthan

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has formally invited bids for a significant Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) package to develop Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity at the NTPC REL Bikaner Solar Plant in Rajasthan. With a total deliverable capacity of 1,950 MW / 7,800 MWh, this standalone BESS tender represents one of the largest utility-scale storage deployments in India, designed to support grid stability and facilitate the integration of massive renewable energy loads.

The procurement is being conducted via a Domestic Competitive Bidding process on a Single Stage Two Envelope basis, followed by a Reverse Auction. This issuance comes at a critical juncture for the Indian energy storage market; as recent IEEFA analysis indicates that nearly 75% of standalone BESS capacity awarded in 2025 falls into “at-risk” viability categories, bidders must navigate a landscape marked by speculative pricing and the recent April 2026 removal of China’s export rebates, which has increased landed costs for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry components.

Project Structure: Capacity Allocation by Block

The project is segmented into five blocks, each interfacing at the 33 kV level of designated solar plants within the Bikaner complex. Bidders are required to demonstrate the specified “BESS Capacity” as deliverable energy at the Point of Interconnection (POI) at the time of the Commercial Operation Date (COD).

Technical Scope and Physical Interface

The selected contractor will execute the project on a full Turnkey EPC basis. The scope extends beyond simple supply to include the comprehensive integration with the owner’s infrastructure.

• Physical Interface: The Terminal Point/Point of Coupling (POC) involves the integration with the owner’s 33 kV pooling switchgear. The extension of the existing 33 kV pooling switchgear is explicitly within the bidder’s scope, including all materials and services.
• Civil & Grid Integration: Scope includes all civil works, erection, and commissioning up to the Point of Interconnection (POI) at the ISTS Switchyard.
• Performance Metrics:
  • Design Life: Minimum 25 years.
  • Cycle Rating: Minimum 10,000 operating cycles.
  • Availability & Efficiency: 98% annual availability and 80% minimum monthly round-trip efficiency (RTE).
  • Capacity Retention: 100% rated capacity at COD; minimum 92% dispatchable capacity must be maintained across the 15-year term.
  • Augmentation Mandate: Any battery augmentation required to maintain the 92% dispatchable capacity throughout the contract duration must be factored into the initial scope and bid price.
  • Nameplate Requirement: Minimum installed capacity must be at least 110% of the specified MWh capacity to account for degradation and auxiliary loads.
• Calculated Loss Parameters: Sizing must incorporate 1% for Power Transformer losses and 0.25% for Transmission Line losses.

Operational Mandates and Regulatory Compliance

This tender enforces rigorous new safety and financial standards reflective of the 2026 regulatory environment:

• CEA Safety Compliance: Per the “CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Amendment Regulations, 2026,” the BESS must utilize a Two-Fault Tolerance System, ensuring the facility can continue safe operation or achieve a safe shutdown following two independent faults.
• Safety Audits: A mandatory independent third-party fire safety audit must be conducted within three months of commissioning, with the report submitted to the Electrical Inspector.
• Financial Liabilities: The bidder is solely responsible for Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) charges attributable to the BESS plant’s scheduling and metering throughout the contract duration.
• Auxiliary & Emergency Power: Bidders must account for all auxiliary consumption, including standby power during non-solar hours and the provision of emergency supply during grid failures.
• Monitoring Standards: The Battery Management System (BMS) must provide granular monitoring (voltage, temperature, thermal runaway) at the cell, module, and rack levels with automated audio-visual alarms.

Administrative Milestones and Contact Information

The bidding process is managed via the Electronic Tender Services (ETS) portal.

• IFB Date: May 29, 2026
• Bidding Document Download Period: June 5, 2026, to June 15, 2026 (up to 17:00 hrs)
• Bid Submission Deadline: June 25, 2026 (up to 15:00 hrs)
• Techno-Commercial Bid Opening: June 25, 2026 (at 15:30 hrs)
• ETS Portal Tender Search Code: NGEL-2026-TN000005
• Bidding Document No: NGEL-CS-5800-004(BESS2)-9
• TENDER PORTAL: https://www.ngel.in/tender

Address for Communication: DGM (RE-CS) / AGM (RE-CS) NTPC Green Energy Limited (Contract Services) 4th Floor, RE Building, NETRA Complex, E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, Pin – 201306 Landline: +91 120 2356557 E-mail: sanjaykumar@ntpc.co.in / rajandwivedi@ntpc.co.in

Strategic Note: Supply Chain Considerations

Prospective bidders are advised to weigh the impact of the April 2026 supply chain shifts. The removal of Chinese export rebates, coupled with a late-2025 surge in lithium carbonate prices, has tightened margins. Given the 15-year comprehensive O&M and the 92% capacity guarantee mandate, technical precision in degradation modeling and augmentation scheduling will be the primary differentiators in this high-capacity procurement.