NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) has issued a request for selection for battery energy storage system (BESS) developers to establish a 125 MW/500 MWh standalone BESS project in Chhattisgarh.

The project must be set up near the 220 kV Khedamara Substation in Durg district.

The project will be supported by viability gap funding at a rate of ₹1.8 million (~$20,300)/MWh, amounting to ₹900 million (~$10.15 million) for the total project capacity.

Bids must be submitted by December 30, 2025. Bids will be opened on December 31.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹880,000 (~$9,921)/MW and a bid processing fee of ₹1.5 million (~$16,917) plus 18% GST.

Successful bidders must submit a performance bank guarantee of ₹2.2 million (~$24,800)/MW.

Success charges of ₹100,000 (~$1,128)/MW, plus 18% GST, must be paid to NVVN within 30 days of issuance of the letter of award.

The BESS developer must guarantee a minimum monthly round-trip efficiency (RtE) of 85%, and support a cycle life of at least one full charge-discharge cycle per day, equating to 420 cycles annually.

The dispatchable capacity should not degrade below 70% by the end of the 16-year contract period. If actual RtE falls below the guaranteed level, liquidated damages are levied for excess conversion losses.

Bidders must have a positive net worth for the preceding three financial years and a minimum net worth of ₹8.8 million (~$99,210)/MW, translating to ₹1.1 billion (~$12.4 million) for the 125 MW project.

A minimum average annual turnover of ₹29.2 million (~$329,310)/MW over the previous three years is also required.

The BESS must maintain a minimum system availability of 95% monthly. Liquidated damages will apply in case of default. Shortfalls below 50% availability for two or more cumulative years may result in the termination of the contract.

In November, NVVN invited bids to develop a 1 MW solar project at GAIL Ajmer, Rajasthan.

In October, NVVN invited bids to set up a 250 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage system in Kerala.