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Delhi Metro Invites Bids to Procure 170 MW Solar Power and 680 MWh Battery Energy Storage System

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has floated a tender inviting bids from developers to supply 170 MW of solar power from an interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected captive solar project, integrated with a co-located 680 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).

The last date for bid submission is November 17, 2025, while bids will be opened on November 18, 2025.

Tender Overview and Financial Requirements

To participate, bidders must submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs450 million (5.08 million) along with a document fee of Rs50,000 (564) plus applicable GST.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish a performance bank guarantee (PBG) of Rs1.81 billion (20.4 million) and a contract bank guarantee equivalent to:

(1 year × annual guaranteed energy offtake × PPA tariff) + Rs1.3 billion (14.67 million).

The scope of work includes design, financing, construction, commissioning, and 25 years of operation and maintenance (O&M) of the solar and storage project. The facility must be connected to the ISTS network via a Central Transmission Utility (CTU) substation, and the BESS must be co-located to qualify for transmission charge waivers.

Project Structure and Shareholding Pattern

Under the captive model, the selected bidder will set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as a project company.

• The successful bidder will hold 74% equity, maintaining this shareholding for at least three years before project commissioning.

• DMRC will hold the remaining 26% stake in the SPV and act as the sole consumer of the project’s power output.

DMRC will release its equity contribution in three tranches:

• 25% upon signing the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Shareholders Agreement,

• 25% upon achieving financial closure, and

• The remaining 50?fore project commissioning.

Project Specifications and Performance Requirements

The project aims to supply 500 million units (MUs) of renewable energy annually — 250 MUs from solar generation and 250 MUs from stored power — to meet DMRC’s growing clean energy demand.

It guarantees:

• Annual energy offtake: 450 MUs (200 MUs during solar hours and 250 MUs during non-solar hours)

• Annual generation: 475 MUs (225 MUs during solar hours and 250 MUs during non-solar hours)

The project’s maximum load requirement at the delivery point will be 170 MW during solar hours, matched by a 170 MW BESS system (680 MWh capacity) operating on a single four-hour cycle. The BESS will provide backup during non-solar hours and can be charged for evening supply (post-5 PM) as per operational needs.

The interconnection, delivery, and metering points will be at a single 220 kV or higher voltage level at an ISTS substation. The transmission line connecting the solar and storage systems will also be part of the project scope.

Eligibility Criteria and Technical Compliance To qualify, bidders must have:

• Executed at least one grid-interactive solar project of 20 MW or more in the past seven years, or

• Developed at least one BESS project of 20 MWh during the same period.

Alternatively, entities designated by MNRE as renewable energy implementing agencies are also eligible.

Bidders must have a minimum net worth of Rs4.48 billion (~$50.5 million) as of the last financial year (FY2025).

All solar modules used must be from Lists I and II of MNRE’s Approved List of Models and

Manufacturers (ALMM).

The project completion timeline is 15 months from the Letter of Award (LoA), with an allowable extension of up to nine months. Delays beyond the scheduled commissioning date will attract daily penalties and tariff reductions. Any generation shortfall will incur penalties equal to 1.5 times the applicable tariff per MWh, plus GST.

Part of DMRC’s Clean Energy Expansion

The project marks a major step in DMRC’s renewable energy strategy, aimed at meeting its power needs through green energy and advanced storage systems. In July 2025, DMRC also invited bids for 5 MW rooftop solar projects across its Phase-IV metro network.

This large-scale tender further strengthens Delhi Metro’s commitment to sustainable operations, aligning with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and Net Zero 2070 goals.