UP: NTPC Issues EPC Tender for 250 MW Solar Plus 50 MW/200 MWh BESS Project

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has recently issued an EPC tender package to develop a 250 MW solar project with a 50 MW/200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh (UP). It has sought bids until February 6, 2026.

The solar project includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packing and forwarding, transportation, unloading, storage, installation, testing, and commissioning of a 250 MW ground-mounted solar plant (including the supply of modules) with a 50 MW/200 MWh BESS at Sitapur, UP.

Scope Of the BESS Project

Based on the NTPC tender,  the design life of the BESS system, including that of the battery, will be 25 years (with degraded capacity as per the bidder’s proposal, considering daily single-cycle operation) from the date of commissioning. Batteries offered shall be rated for a minimum of 10,000 cycles of operation. 

For developing the BESS project, the bidder is required to extend a minimum guarantee of 92% of dispatchable capacity at the POI across all 15 years, starting with 100% of rated dispatchable capacity for the first year. Any augmentation required to meet the above criteria shall be included in the bidder’s scope. 

The bidder will also quote the minimum state of health (SoH) up to which the batteries can be operated and the expected deliverable capacity for the 16–25-year period without further augmentation. This is considering the timing of installation, degradation, and the minimum SoH recommended by the battery OEM.

The tender also requires the bidder to undertake a comprehensive operations and maintenance (O&M), including associated warranties, annual maintenance contracts (service level agreements), and performance insurance of the BESS for a period of 15 years, which would be included in the bidder’s scope.

Scope of Work of Solar Project

Under the scope of work of the NTPC tender for the solar project, the bidder is required to undertake site levelling/grading and clearing of vegetation, topographical survey, and geotechnical investigation.

Additionally, the tender requires the bidder to undertake the design and construction of foundations and the erection of the module mounting structure (MMS) for SPV panels. Under the scope of development of the BESS project, all project deliverables, as specified at the Point of Interconnection (POI) to the UPPTCL grid, would be met in full. The SOW defined herein for the BESS portion is indicative and would be construed to encompass all activities, systems, and services necessary to meet the overall project requirements and performance guarantees.