NTPC Green Escalates Khavda Storage Race with 3.3 GWh BESS Tender

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), the renewables-focused subsidiary of state-run NTPC Limited, has aggressively moved to scale its energy storage footprint with the issuance of a major Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) tender. The invitation for bids (IFB No.: NGEL-CS-5779-004(BESS1)-9; ETS Portal Search Code: NGEL-2026-TN000004) targets the development of a 1,100 MW / 3,300 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the NTPC REL Khavda Solar Plant in Gujarat.

This move marks a significant strategic pivot for the public sector undertaking as it seeks to match private sector deployment speeds. The tender arrives just days after Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) successfully operationalised a cumulative 3.37 GWh BESS at the same Khavda site on May 26, 2026. NGEL’s solicitation utilizes a domestic competitive bidding framework under a Single Stage Two Envelope system, followed by a high-stakes Reverse Auction.

Project Configuration and Injection Parameters

The 3.3 GWh capacity is distributed across four distinct blocks at PSS-1 within the Khavda Solar Park. Crucially, the tender specifies that the BESS capacity refers to the rated AC discharge capacity at the Point of Injection (POI) at the ISTS substation. Bidders are explicitly required to calculate auxiliary consumption during discharge to ensure net delivery meets these figures.

BESS Project Block Configuration

Note: Each block must be integrated at the 33 kV level of a designated 300 MW solar plant.

Rigorous Engineering and Lifecycle Mandates

As a turnkey EPC package, the scope covers the full industrial lifecycle—from design and manufacturing to final grid integration with the Balance of System (BoS) infrastructure. To mitigate the volatility inherent in large-scale renewable evacuation, NGEL has mandated high-endurance hardware and stringent engineering studies.

Technical Performance Benchmarks:

• Design Life: 25 years from the date of commissioning (based on a single daily charge-discharge cycle).
• Operational Endurance: Battery cells must be rated for a minimum of 10,000 cycles.
• Round Trip Efficiency (RTE): A minimum monthly RTE of 80% is required, measured at the Termination Point/Point of Coupling (POC), inclusive of all auxiliary consumption.
• System Availability: Contractors must guarantee a 98% annual availability rate.
• Engineering Drivers: Bidders must account for specific head losses during sizing: 1% Power Transformer losses and 0.25% Transmission Line losses.
• Grid Compliance: The scope includes a mandatory Grid Compliance Study and Power Quality Compliance for the entire Solar + BESS + Evacuation system up to the grid interconnection point.

Long-Term Dispatchability and EMS Requirements

The successful bidder will enter into a 15-year comprehensive Operation & Maintenance (O&M) contract. Under the performance guarantee, the contractor is responsible for any battery augmentation required to maintain the “Dispatchable Capacity” at the POI throughout the term.

The capacity floor is strictly defined:

• COD: 100% rated dispatchable capacity.
• Year 1: 95% minimum capacity.
• Handover (Year 15): 92% minimum capacity.

A critical component of this package is the implementation of an advanced Energy Management System (EMS). The EMS must not only manage current grid requirements and solar integration but must also feature provisions for future grid-based charging. Furthermore, the bidder is financially responsible for standby auxiliary consumption during non-solar hours, necessitating a highly efficient system design for the duration of the contract.

Tender Timeline and Financing

NGEL has indicated that the project will be funded through a mix of internal resources and external borrowings. The administrative timeline reflects the urgency of the Khavda build-out, with a rapid evaluation process following the submission deadline.

• Document Download Period: June 5, 2026, to June 15, 2026 (until 17:00 hrs).
• Pre-Bid Conference: June 17, 2026, at 11:00 hrs.
• Bid Submission Deadline: June 25, 2026, by 15:00 hrs.
• Techno-Commercial Bid Opening: June 25, 2026, at 15:30 hrs.
• Tender Portal: https://www.ngel.in/tender

Strategic Context: The Khavda Competitive Landscape

The Khavda Solar Park, situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat, is rapidly becoming the epicenter of India’s renewable energy transition. As of April 2026, the park has reached 9.4 GW of installed capacity, on its way to a targeted 30 GW.

NGEL’s current 3,300 MWh tender is a clear attempt to establish parity with private sector rivals. Following Adani Green’s recent commissioning of the 3.37 GWh system—one of the largest single-location BESS deployments globally—NGEL’s project will be vital in mitigating curtailment and ensuring grid stability as more intermittent wind and solar assets come online. With the government targeting 14 GWh of grid-scale storage in Kutch, this EPC package represents a significant step toward making the world’s largest hybrid energy park a dispatchable reality.