V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority has invited bids to commission a 2 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

Selected bidders must commission the project within four months of receiving the work order. They must also provide a comprehensive annual maintenance contract for five years, including a one-year guarantee period.

The estimated work cost is ₹64.35 million (~$725,119).

Bids must be submitted by October 28, 2025. Bids will be opened on October 29.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹1.29 million (~$14,536).

Selected bidders must furnish an amount equal to 5% of the contract price as performance security.

The BESS must deliver 400 kW of continuous power output for five hours, with an AC-to-AC round-trip efficiency of 85% at rated power and an annual availability of 90%. Cell chemistry must be lithium-ion, lithium iron phosphate, or an equivalent proven technology.

The system must support peak shaving, load shifting, renewable smoothing, frequency support, voltage support, and emergency backup.

Bidders must have an average annual financial turnover during the last three years of at least 30% of the estimated cost.

They must have completed three similar works, each costing at least 40% of the estimated work cost, two similar works, each costing at least 50% of the estimated work cost, or one similar work costing at least 80% of the estimated work cost during the last seven years.

Similar work means the contractor has completed either a BESS project of at least 1 MWh as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or an OEM-authorized service provider, including the battery and energy management system, and power conversion/conditioning systems; or developed a renewable energy project integrated with BESS.

India added 48.4 MWh of energy storage capacity in the first half (1H) of 2025, a 74% decline from 186 MWh added in the same period last year, according to the newly released India’s Energy Storage Landscape 1H 2025 Report by Mercom India Research.

India’s cumulative installed energy storage capacity reached 490 MWh by the end of June 2025.

Solar-plus-storage systems accounted for nearly 56% of India’s cumulative installed capacity. This was followed by more than 32% from solar-plus-wind projects with round-the-clock capability, and over 12% from standalone battery energy storage systems. The remaining share came from floating solar with storage, and solar-plus-wind projects with storage capabilities.