India Plans 30 GWh BESS Tender by August to Boost Grid, Thermal Power.

The Ministry of Power is aggressively driving the integration of renewable energy with significant storage solutions, pushing for the rapid establishment of solar and wind power capacities complemented by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). This strategic move aims to optimize the utilization of existing thermal power capacities and strengthen grid infrastructure across the nation.

The initiative is designed to ensure a reliable and economical electricity supply, particularly during non-solar hours, by leveraging the flexibility offered by BESS and PSPs.

As part of this push, the Ministry is set to float a major tender for 30 Gigawatt-hour (GWh) BESS capacity within the next three months. To facilitate this significant investment, the tender will include a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹5,400 crore, calculated at a rate of ₹18 lakh per MWh. This financial support is expected to encourage broader participation and accelerate the deployment of large-scale battery storage solutions.