Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) has invited bids to select a consortium partner to set up a 50 MW/100 MWh standalone battery storage project in Bhatinda, Punjab.

The last date to submit bids is March 18, 2026.

This tender is for a pre-bid tie-up, and its award is contingent on POWERGRID winning the upstream tender floated by Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) to set up 250 MW/500 MWh standalone battery storage projects.

The selected bidder must not participate directly, or indirectly through their subsidiaries, partnerships, ownership, individual firms, or through a consortium, in PSPCL’s tender.

The scope of work covers the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of a 50 MW/100 MWh battery storage project.

The project must be completed within 15 months. The successful bidder must provide comprehensive maintenance for 12 years.

Bidders must have supplied, erected, tested, and commissioned grid-connected battery storage projects as a prime contractor, with a cumulative capacity of 10 MWh in the last seven years. The projects must be operational for at least 7 years.

Alternatively, they must have supplied, erected, tested, and commissioned at least one solar/wind project of at least 50 MW in India as prime contractor in the last seven years. The project must be operational for at least 7 years.

Bidders who have erected, tested, and commissioned at least two AIS circuit breakers equipped bays of at least 132 kV in one substation or switchyard in the last seven years are also eligible. The projects must have been in operation for at least 7 years.

Battery manufacturers who have supplied a cumulative capacity of at least 50 MWh of batteries (same technology offered in the bid) in the last three years for stationary grid applications can also participate in the tender.

Bidders must have a positive net worth in the last three financial years.

They must have a minimum annual turnover of ₹1.18 billion (~$12.89 million) in at least three of the last five financial years.

They must have liquid assets and/or evidence of access to or availability of credit facilities of at least ₹197.1 million (~$2.15 million).

Startups/MSEs only need to meet 80% of the minimum annual turnover and liquid assets requirements to qualify for the bid round.

The PSPCL’s 250 MW/500 MWh battery storage projects will have viability gap funding of ₹1.8 million (~$19,946.14)/MWh.

According to PSPCL, the battery storage projects must be constructed on the land belonging to the 460 MW Guru Nanak Dev thermal project after it is demolished.

The BESS must be set up for on-demand charging/discharging. The BESS will be charged by drawing power from Punjab State Transmission Corporation (PSTCL) and discharged by injecting power into the PSTCL network.

Successful bidders must interconnect the battery storage projects with the state transmission utility at the 220 kV substation in Bhatinda. This will include constructing the new bay or renovating the existing idle bay.

The battery storage projects will be technologically agnostic. However, the projects must include at least 20% local content.

Selected bidders must ensure a minimum monthly system availability of 95% and a minimum monthly AC-to-AC round-trip efficiency of 85%.

Delays in the commissioning of the projects will incur liquidated damages capped at 10% of the project costs. Failure to commission the projects will result in encashment of 100% of the performance bank guarantee. Additionally, failure to meet performance parameters will also attract liquidated damages.

Recently, POWERGRID floated tenders to set up three standalone battery storage projects, each with a capacity of 100 MW/200 MWh, in Punjab.