NTPC REL Issues Tender for 300 MW Solar-Plus-Storage Project in Rajasthan; BESS Component Targets Peak Shifting

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has launched a significant tender for the land and power evacuation package to support a new 300 MW solar PV project integrated with a massive 1200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Nokhra, Rajasthan. Positioned adjacent to NTPC Green Energy’s (NGEL) existing 300 MW Nokhra solar facility, the project represents a strategic move to bolster grid resilience through “peak shifting,” utilizing a high-capacity 4-hour storage profile to align renewable generation with peak demand periods.

Key Project Specifications

Scope of Work and Technical Requirements

The tender covers the comprehensive arrangement of land and the development of power evacuation infrastructure necessary to link the hybrid plant to the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS). Key responsibilities include:

• Land Acquisition: Securing approximately 5 acres per MW on either a freehold or leasehold basis. In a move to prioritize private land, the use of Government land is capped at a maximum of 10% of the total project area.
• Electrical Infrastructure: The design, engineering, erection, and commissioning of an Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) pooling substation.
• System Interconnection: Delivery of 33 kV switchgear required to interlink the solar plant with the 300 MW / 1200 MWh BESS.
• Regulatory Compliance by Design: Infrastructure design must facilitate compliance with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Safety Regulations 2026, including the integration of advanced monitoring for “Two-Fault Tolerance” and thermal management within the pooling and interconnection systems.

Eligibility and Procedural Parameters

NTPC REL has set rigorous technical and financial hurdles for bidders, emphasizing proven operational reliability.

Technical Qualifications:

• Land Arrangement: Bidders must have successfully arranged land for at least 100 MW of cumulative grid-connected renewable energy projects (with at least one site \ge 50 MW). Alternatively, experience in executing an industrial process project (power, steel, oil & gas, etc.) valued at INR 22 crore or more within the last 10 years is acceptable.
• Substation Experience: Execution of at least one electrical substation of 33 kV or higher is required. Critically, this equipment must have been in successful operation for at least six months (for RE projects) or one year (for non-RE industrial projects) prior to the date of the techno-commercial bid opening.

Financial Standing:

• Turnover: An average annual turnover of at least INR 22 crore over the preceding three financial years.
• Net Worth: Bidders must demonstrate a positive net worth as of the final day of the preceding financial year.

Techno-commercial bids are scheduled to be opened on April 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM.

Note for Bidders: Regulatory Safety Context

As this project features a significant 1200 MWh BESS component, full adherence to the CEA Safety Regulation 2026 (Chapter XA) is mandatory. Bidders must ensure the system architecture supports:

• Two-Fault Tolerance: The system must remain in a safe state even during two simultaneous failures.
• Advanced BMS Monitoring: Continuous tracking of voltage, temperature, and thermal runaway, with mandatory audio-visual alarms and automatic shutdown protocols.
• Post-Commissioning Audit: A mandatory third-party fire safety audit must be completed within three months of commissioning to verify compliance with explosion protection and fire suppression standards at the cell, module, and site levels.
• TENDER PORTAL: https://ntpctender.ntpc.co.in/