Successful bid price of utility scale ESS project in India 2026

What is the evolution of utility scale ESS tenders in India?

The evolution of Utility Scale ESS tenders in India highlights the increasing focus and efforts of all stakeholders. In the past five years, the ESS tenders have been evolving with innovative and new age tenders such as RTC, Peak Power and now standalone ESS.

Which ESS tenders will increase Indian ESS capacity multifold?

The latest ESS tenders issued by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and NTPC are the first in India to combine standalone ESS with on-demand use. These two standalone ESS tenders, by SECI and NTPC, have a cumulative storage capacity of 1GW/4GWh. Thus, if executed well, these projects will augment Indian ESS capacity multifold.

Is Bess a utility scale solar power project in India?

This was one of India’s first tenders to couple solar power with BESS at a utility scale. Current Status: L&T won the tender and successfully commissioned the project in July 2020. Since then, several utility scale solar+BESS tenders have been announced and tendered.

Are ESS tenders a catalyst for the Indian ESS market?

In the past five years, the ESS tenders have been evolving with innovative and new age tenders such as RTC, Peak Power and now standalone ESS. Current standalone ESS tenders, being the first large-scale tenders of such kind, can be a catalyst for the entire Indian ESS market.

How to improve ESS projects' viability?

To improve ESS projects’ viability, driving down tariffs discovered in ESS tenders will be vital. The treatment of ESS-as-a-Service in the current standalone tenders will be a major step in driving the ESS market. Future ESS tenders should have a similar design to enforce bidding in terms of MW, ultimately developing a capacity market in India.

Why is ESS tender a pilot project?

SECI has deliberately declared its tender as a pilot project. Thus, the learnings from these tenders (bidding and execution) will contribute heavily to future ESS tender designs by central tendering authorities such as NTPC and SECI. To improve ESS projects’ viability, driving down tariffs discovered in ESS tenders will be vital.