Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has invited proposals for the Balance of System (BoS) of a large battery energy storage project in Nandiyal, Andhra Pradesh. This tender is part of a larger central government plan to develop 30 gigawatt-hours of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) across the country by 2028. The project is designed to strengthen renewable energy integration into the power grid and manage fluctuations in electricity demand and supply.
The Nandiyal project has a planned capacity of 600 MW with 1200 MWh-megawatt-hours of storage. It will operate as a standalone BESS project to provide firm and reliable support to the grid, particularly during peak hours when renewable power is less available. The contractor selected for this project will be responsible for delivering the project on a turnkey basis. This means the scope of work will cover complete design and engineering, procurement and supply of equipment and materials, civil works, installation, testing, and commissioning. The scope excludes BESS containers, power conversion systems, and associated cables, which will be separately arranged. Once commissioned, the contractor will also have to provide five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance services to ensure reliable performance of the system.
To participate in the bidding process, interested firms are required to pay a non-refundable document fee of ₹25,000 plus applicable GST. Along with this, they must submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). The EMD amount has been fixed at ₹86,600 per megawatt, which for the 600 MW project comes to ₹5,19,60,000. This deposit serves as a financial commitment to ensure that only serious bidders participate in the process. The bidding will be conducted through a two-bid system, where bidders first submit their technical and financial proposals separately. This will be followed by an e-Reverse Auction to discover the final tariff or cost of execution through competitive bidding.
The important dates, such as the last date of bid submission, the pre-bid meeting, and the opening of techno-commercial bids, are not directly mentioned in the RfP document itself. Instead, these details are made available on the ISN-ETS portal, which is the online platform designated for submission of bids. SECI has emphasized that all proposals must be uploaded only through this portal, and bidders are advised to keep themselves updated through it for any amendments or notifications.
The selected contractor will also be required to furnish a Performance Bank Guarantee, which is referred to in the document as a Contract Performance Guarantee. This will serve as financial security to safeguard SECI’s interests. If the contractor fails to complete the project within the stipulated time frame, the performance guarantee can be encashed as liquidated damages. This condition has been included to ensure that timelines are met and execution does not suffer delays.
Bidders are advised to carefully review and examine the site conditions on their own before submitting proposals. SECI has made it clear that it will not entertain claims for extra costs arising from a lack of awareness or preparation about the site. With this project, SECI aims to advance India’s clean energy transition by building robust storage capacity that complements solar and wind generation. This is expected to help the national grid achieve greater stability and reliability while supporting the country’s renewable energy targets.
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