Coal India Limited has invited bids for the development of an 80 MW/320 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at four designated locations in Odisha through the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode along with comprehensive operation and maintenance for 15 years. The project comprises four 20 MW/80 MWh systems at the Padampur, New Bolangir, Bhatli and Basta grid substations and will be developed on a build-own-operate basis. The EPC contract will be entered into with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited. The deadline for bid submission is October 9, 2026.
According to the tender guidelines, the scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, associated civil works, erection, testing, commissioning and performance demonstration of the cumulative 80 MW/320 MWh BESS at four designated locations on a lump-sum turnkey basis. The contractor will also develop the required 33 kV switchyard evacuation bays, including metering, at the respective Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited substations and establish the evacuation system through underground cables from the BESS facilities to the points of interconnection. Additionally, the work would include obtaining the necessary arrangements and approvals to enable the declaration of commercial operation following the commissioning of the BESS at each substation, along with comprehensive operations & maintenance for 15 years after the successful completion of the performance guarantee test for each cluster.
According to the financial criteria, the bidders must have an average annual turnover of at least Rs 1.19 billion during the three financial years ending March 31, 2026. The technical criteria require bidders to qualify through one of three routes: experience in manufacturing and supplying at least 64 MWh of batteries designed for integration with grid-interactive BESS under Route I; experience as an integrator, supplier, aggregator, EPC contractor or developer of at least 64 MWh of commissioned grid-interactive BESS under Route II; or experience as an EPC contractor or developer of a grid-connected solar or wind project of at least 16 MWac at a single location under Route III. Under Routes I and II, at least 16 MWh supplied under a single order at a single location must have been operational for at least six months, while projects qualifying under Route III must also have operated for at least six months. Furthermore, bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit of Rs 5 million.
