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NTPC Green Energy Wins Big in NHPC’s 125 MW/500 MWh BESS Auction in Kerala
May 22, 2025
NTPC Green Energy has emerged as the top winner in NHPC's auction for developing 125 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) connected to Kerala's intrastate transmission system (InSTS). NTPC secured two projects totaling 80 MW/320 MWh—40 MW/160 MWh at Pothencode Substation for Rs4.57 lakh/MW/month and another 40 MW/160 MWh at Sreekantapuram Substation at the lowest L1 tariff of Rs4.34 lakh/MW/month.
Opera Energy won a 15 MW/60 MWh project at Mulleria Substation with a tariff of Rs4.38 lakh/MW/month. The auction for the remaining 30 MW/120 MWh capacity is yet to be finalized. The tender was initially floated in January 2025.
All successful bidders must meet key performance requirements, including one cycle per day operation, 95% monthly system availability, and at least 85?-to-AC roundtrip efficiency. Projects must utilize commercially established technologies to ensure timely and reliable commissioning.
To enhance viability, developers will receive Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of up to Rs27 lakh/MWh or 30% of capital cost, whichever is lower. This auction saw tariffs broadly in line with SECI’s earlier Kerala BESS tender, which had discovered a rate of Rs4.41 lakh/MW/month, won by JSW.