The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has launched a call for battery energy storage system developers (BESSD) for the supply of energy from 4 GW/16 GWh of standalone battery energy storage systems for on-demand usage. The last date to submit bids in offline mode is November 23, 2026.

Capacity Split Across Two States

The total capacity is divided into two packages. One package covers 2.5 GW/10 GWh in Rajasthan, while the second covers 1.5 GW/6 GWh in Gujarat. Bidders can participate in either one or both of the packages but may submit only one bid per package.

Bid sizes are bounded for each state. For Rajasthan, individual bids must range from 50 MW/200 MWh to 625 MW/2,500 MWh. For the Gujarat package, bids must range from 50 MW/200 MWh to 375 MW/1,500 MWh.

Central Financial Assistance Expected

SECI says central financial assistance (CFA) of approximately USD 15,800 per MWh of BESS is expected to be available under this request for selection (RFS). For the full 16 GWh, that amounts to approximately USD 252 million.

Build-Own-Operate Model and Developer Responsibilities

Selected developers will need to set up the projects on a build-own-operate basis in Rajasthan and Gujarat and supply charging power to the BESS. SECI will enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply energy from the energy storage facility to different buying entities in India. Details of those buying entities will be shared later.

Bidders will be responsible for identifying land, project installation, ownership, and complete operation and maintenance of the BESS. The buying entity will be responsible for discharging the stored energy, while the developer must supply it in line with the performance requirements specified in the tender.

Renewable Charging Requirement

The tender stipulates that at least 51% of the energy used for charging the BESS must be procured from renewable energy sources. This requirement ties the storage capacity to renewable generation, setting a minimum share of clean energy in the charging mix for the projects.

Local Content Requirements Under Make in India

Projects must also comply with the government's Make in India requirements, including minimum local content in battery procurement. Developers will be required to submit an auditor-certified declaration confirming the share of locally sourced content.

Eligibility for Existing and Under-Construction Projects

The tender is open to bidders who have already commissioned BESS projects or are in the process of constructing such projects and have untied capacity. These developers are eligible to participate in the tender.

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