NTPC Opens EPC Procurement for Floating Solar and Battery Storage Project at Mauritius Reservoir

International bids invited for a 15 MW floating solar plant with 12 MW/60 MWh battery storage at Tamarind Falls Reservoir; submissions due 7 December 2026

NTPC Limited, India’s largest power utility, has invited international competitive bids for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) package to develop a 15 MW floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) project coupled with a 12 MW/60 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Tamarind Falls Reservoir in Mauritius. The Invitation for Bids (IFB), issued on 15 October 2026 under Bidding Document No. CS-0011-004N-2, has been floated by NTPC’s Corporate Contracts division on behalf of NTPC (Mauritius) Energy Limited, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary in the island nation. The tender marks NTPC’s shift from adviser to owner at the reservoir.

Bidding Process and Timeline

Bids will be evaluated on a single-stage, two-envelope basis followed by a reverse auction. Bidders must sign a non-disclosure agreement before downloading the bidding documents, and the IFB states that the project will be financed through a mix of debt and equity.

Scope of Work

The package is a full turnkey assignment covering design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of a grid-connected 15 MWac floating plant. The contractor will carry out topographical, geotechnical and bathymetric surveys of the reservoir; supply, anchor and install the floaters, walkways and modules; and build launching and maintenance platforms with road and water access.

The electrical scope covers inverters, transformers, protection, metering and reactive power compensation up to the 22 kV pooling switchgear, which is the terminal point for power evacuation. A central monitoring station with SCADA, a weather station, a module cleaning system and CCTV surveillance are also included.

The contractor must also provide three years of comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) for the solar plant, an annual maintenance contract for critical equipment, and a 12-year comprehensive annual maintenance contract (CAMC) for the BESS, which includes replacement and disposal of batteries.

Storage Designed for Firm Evening Supply

The IFB requires bidders to size the BESS so that the hybrid facility delivers minimum firm dispatch along a defined demand curve throughout the project tenure. At commissioning, 12 MW/60 MWh must be available at the Point of Injection, equivalent to five hours of discharge at rated power. Annual degradation in available BESS capacity is capped at 2% of the initial rating.

The SCADA system must optimise battery charging and grid dispatch to meet evening dispatch requirements, effectively shifting daytime solar output into the island’s evening demand window. The scope includes the battery system, power conversion system, and battery and energy management systems.

Qualifying Requirements

• Technical: Bidders must have built, or developed as owners, grid-connected solar PV plants with a cumulative capacity of at least 10 MWp, including one plant of 4 MWp or more that has operated successfully for six months before techno-commercial bid opening. Floating and rooftop projects qualify.
• Consortium route: A two-member consortium is permitted. One partner must meet the solar experience criterion, while the other may qualify through industrial projects worth USD 18 million or more over the last ten years, including one project of at least USD 7 million.
• Financial: An average annual turnover of at least USD 18 million over the preceding three financial years is required, along with net worth of no less than 25% of paid-up share capital. For consortia, the lead partner must meet 51% of the turnover requirement and the other partner at least 10%.

From Consultant to Developer

NTPC earlier served as consultant to the Central Electricity Board (CEB) of Mauritius for a 2 MWp floating PV plant at the reservoir, and prepared a pre-feasibility report and conceptual design report for BESS integration with a 30 MW floating solar project at the same site.

The present project took shape during the Mauritian Prime Minister’s state visit to India in September 2025, when the two governments agreed to take forward a government-to-government proposal for a 17.5 MW floating solar project at Tamarind Falls, alongside a memorandum of understanding on power sector cooperation. NTPC has since incorporated NTPC (Mauritius) Energy Limited to implement current projects and pursue future power sector opportunities in the country. The tendered 15 MWac rating, at a 1.33 DC:AC ratio, corresponds to roughly 20 MWp of module capacity.

Wider Significance

The project adds a storage-backed floating solar asset to NTPC’s overseas portfolio, which includes the Maitree thermal project in Bangladesh and a 50 MW solar joint venture at Sampur in Sri Lanka.

The tender also aligns with India’s domestic policy direction. On 31 July 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana with an outlay of INR 5,070 crore to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity with co-located storage of at least two hours, against roughly 700 MW installed today. The Tamarind Falls project offers Indian EPC contractors and suppliers an international reference in the same segment. Interested bidders have until 7 December 2026 to submit their offers.

Official References

1. NTPC Tender Portal – NIT CS-0011-004N-2: EPC Package for 15 MW Floating Solar PV with 12 MW/60 MWh BESS at Tamarind Falls Reservoir, Mauritius: https://ntpctender.ntpc.co.in/NITDetails/NITs/30387
2. NTPC Limited – Detailed Invitation for Bids (IFB) and Qualifying Requirements, Bidding Document No. CS-0011-004N-2 (15.10.2026): https://ntpctender.ntpc.co.in/Uploads/job_46032.pdf
3. NTPC Limited – Joint Ventures and Subsidiaries (NTPC (Mauritius) Energy Limited): https://ntpc.co.in/business-development/joint-ventures-and-subsidiaries-various-sectors
4. NTPC Limited – International Consultancy (Mauritius assignments): https://ntpc.co.in/about-us/corporate-functions/international-business/international-consultancy
5. Prime Minister of India – List of Outcomes: State Visit of Prime Minister of Mauritius to India (11 September 2025): https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/list-of-outcomes-state-visit-of-prime-minister-of-mauritius-to-india/
6. Prime Minister of India – Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) (31 July 2026): https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-surya-sarovar-yojana-pm-ssy-for-development-of-floating-solar-photovoltaic-projects-with-energy-storage-systems-with-a-total-outlay-of-rs-5070-crore/