JSW Energy has secured the contract to develop a 125 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Kerala through Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) recent auction. The company submitted a winning tariff bid of ₹441,000 per MW per month. The auction was part of a issued in December last year to enhance energy storage capacity in the region.
As part of the project, JSW Energy will receive viability gap funding of ₹27 lakh per MWh or 30% of the total project cost, whichever is lower. The BESS will be connected to the Mylatti 220 kV substation in Kasaragod. An existing 110 kV bay is available, with the option for JSW to extend another bay if needed. The company must ensure system availability for at least one full operational cycle per day, maintain 95% monthly availability, and achieve a roundtrip efficiency of 85%. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) may utilize the system for up to two operational cycles daily, with a limit of 40 cycles per month and 400 cycles per year.
JSW Energy must use proven and commercially viable technologies that comply with industry standards to minimize risks. SECI will allow phased commissioning without penalties if at least 50% of the project’s MWh capacity is completed in the first phase. The project must be fully commissioned within 15 months of signing the storage agreement, with financial closure required within nine months.
