NTPC REL Issues EPC Tender for 550 MW / 2,200 MWh BESS at Bikaner Solar Plant

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), on behalf of NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL), has issued an “Invitation for Bids” (IFB) for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of Block-2 of a 7,800 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project. This package involves the development of a 550 MW / 2,200 MWh Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS)-connected BESS to be located at Pooling Sub Station-2 (PSS-2) of the NTPC REL Bikaner Solar Plant in Rajasthan. The project is part of a larger 2026 infrastructure deployment and will be integrated with the site’s existing solar generation and evacuation facilities.

Project Block Configuration

The total 7,800 MWh capacity at the Bikaner Solar Plant is divided into five blocks. The following table details the specific requirements for the current bidding package (Block-2) and the overall project layout:

Note: The specified capacity for each block is the deliverable capacity required at the Point of Interconnection (POI) at the time of the Commercial Operation Date (COD).

Technical Performance and Operational Parameters

Technical compliance for the BESS installation is mandated across the following metrics:

• System Life and Duty Cycle: The BESS must be designed for a 25-year life based on daily single-cycle operation. Batteries must have a minimum rating of 10,000 charge-discharge cycles.
• Efficiency and Availability: A minimum monthly Round Trip Efficiency (RTE) of 80%, including auxiliary consumption, is required as measured at the Termination Point/Point of Coupling. Annual system availability must be maintained at a minimum of 98% as measured at the POI.
• Guaranteed Dispatchable Capacity: Developers must guarantee 100% of the rated capacity at COD and 95% during the first year of operation. For the remainder of the 15-year term, dispatchable capacity must not fall below 92% at the POI, including at the time of project handover.
• Loss Sizing and Capacity: Bidders are required to size the nameplate installed capacity at a minimum of 110% of the MWh capacity. This must account for auxiliary consumption and specific losses of 1% for power transformers and 0.25% for transmission lines between the termination point and the POI.

Tender Timeline and Evaluation Process

The administrative schedule for the bidding process is established as follows:

• Bidding Document Download Period: June 5, 2026, to June 15, 2026, until 17:00 hrs.
• Bid Submission Deadline: June 25, 2026, at 15:00 hrs.
• Techno-Commercial Bid Opening: June 25, 2026, at 15:30 hrs.
• TENDER PORTAL: https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app

The evaluation will utilize a Single Stage Two Envelope Bidding process (Techno-Commercial and Price bids). Selected bidders will then participate in a Reverse Auction to determine the final award.

EPC Scope of Work and O&M Obligations

The turnkey contract includes the following primary responsibilities:

1. Turnkey Development: Design, engineering, supply, transportation, installation, and commissioning of the grid-connected BESS and its integration with the 33 kV pooling switchgear.
2. Operational Consumption: The bidder is responsible for the standby auxiliary consumption of the BESS plant during non-solar hours throughout the contract period.
3. Grid Compliance: Conduct of integrated grid compliance studies (Solar-plus-storage) and ensuring power quality compliance at the POI within the ISTS switchyard.
4. 15-Year O&M: Provision of comprehensive Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services for 15 years, including a Service Level Agreement (SLA), annual maintenance, and necessary capacity augmentation to meet performance guarantees.

Corporate Pipeline and Strategic Context

NTPC Limited has set a corporate target to reach 22 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2032. To support this trajectory, the board approved an investment of Rs 5,821.90 crore for a 4.70 GWh BESS program.

The Bikaner tender is part of a current procurement cycle totaling 17,500 MWh of BESS capacity under active EPC tenders by NGEL:

• Bikaner (Rajasthan): 7,800 MWh (including the current 550 MW/2,200 MWh Block-2)
• Fatehgarh (Uttar Pradesh): 3,200 MWh
• Khavda (Gujarat): 3,300 MWh
• Khavda (Gujarat – Separate Package): 3,200 MWh