Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) has floated two tenders inviting bids to set up 150 MW/300 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Punjab.

The last day to submit the bids is March 17, 2026. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must submit a tender fee of ₹25,000 (~$273) for each tender.

POWERGRID plans to participate in Punjab State Power Corporation’s (PSPCL) tender to select a battery energy storage system developer for setting up 500 MW/1,000 MWh of standalone BESS projects in Punjab.

PSPCL is the bid process coordinator and has issued the tender, in which POWERGRID is a bidder. If POWERGRID wins and receives the letter of award, it or its nominated entity will develop the project on a build, own, operate basis.

The BESS project will receive viability gap funding support through the Power System Development Fund.

The BESS projects must be completed within 15 months.

Selected bidders must provide comprehensive project facility maintenance for 12 years.

Bidders must comply with any of the following requirements as a prime contractor:

• They must have supplied, erected, tested, and commissioned grid-connected BESS systems with at least 10 MWh cumulative capacity
• They must have supplied, erected, tested, and commissioned at least one solar or wind project with a minimum capacity of 50 MW.
• They must have erected, tested, and commissioned at least two AIS^ circuit breaker-equipped bays of a minimum 132 kV voltage level in one substation or switchyard.

These projects must have been operational for the last seven years from the bid submission end date.

Alternatively, bidders must be battery manufacturers who have supplied at least 50 MWh of batteries for stationary grid applications in the three years preceding the bid submission end date.

Tender 1

This tender is for the setting up of 50 MW/100 MWh battery energy storage systems in Ludhiana.

Bidders must have a positive net worth during the preceding three financial years. They must have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹1.18 billion (~$12.83 million).

Bidders must demonstrate liquid assets and/or evidence of access to, or availability of, credit facilities worth at least ₹197.1 million (~$2.14 million).

Tender 2

This tender is for the setting up of 100 MW/200 MWh BESS in Ludhiana.

Bidders must have a positive net worth during the preceding three financial years. They must have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹2.36 billion (~$25.66 million).

Bidders must demonstrate liquid assets and/or evidence of access to, or availability of, credit facilities worth at least ₹394 million (~$4.28 million).

According to the ‘Levelized Cost of Storage and Bidding Trends in Indian Energy Storage Projects’ report released by Mercom India Research, only 50% of the standalone BESS projects evaluated showed positive project economics and economic viability under modeled assumptions.