The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) to select a supplier for a 600 MW/1,200 MWh standalone grid-connected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Kolimigundla, Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh.

The project is eligible for grants under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) program for BESS Tranche-II.

Bids must be submitted by September 10, 2025. The bids will be opened on September 11.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹421,600 (~$4,900.47)/MW, amounting to ₹252.96 million (~$2.94 million) for the full 600 MW capacity, and a bid processing fee of ₹25,000 (~$290.70) plus GST.

The successful bidder must submit a performance bank guarantee of 10% of the contract value within 20 days of the notice of the award.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, commissioning, and comprehensive operation and maintenance for 15 years.

The BESS will be connected to the interstate transmission system via the Kurnool-3 substation, Andhra Pradesh.

The BESS capacity will be discharged through power exchanges during the hours specified by SECI.

Bidders must have manufactured and supplied, or have an order book for, batteries designed for grid integration with a cumulative capacity of at least 120 MWh, of which 60 MWh must have been operational for at least six months before the bid deadline.

Alternatively, they must have experience as an integrator, supplier, aggregator, EPC contractor, or developer of grid-interactive BESS of at least 120 MWh cumulative capacity, with 60 MWh operational for a minimum of six months.

Bidders must have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹5.05 billion (~$58.72 million) over the last three financial years.

The net worth of the bidders must have been positive in FY 2024–25. Bidders must have a minimum working capital of ₹2.71 billion (~$31.51 million), or a line of credit for this amount from a scheduled commercial bank.

Liquidated damages for delays involve penalties of 0.5% per week of the undelivered value or uncommissioned capacity, with a maximum of 5% of the contract price. These penalties are applied separately for supply and commissioning delays.

Earlier this year, the government announced that a VGF of ₹1.8 million (~$21,043)/MWh will be provided to support the development of 30 GWh of BESS capacity. The funding will be sourced from the Power System Development Fund, with a total financial outlay of ₹54 billion (~$631.30 million).

Recently, SECI invited bids for the operation and maintenance of a 10 MW ground-mounted solar power project in Badi Sid, Rajasthan, for five years.