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SECI Invites Bids for BoS Package of 70 MW Solar Project with 25 MW/50 MWh Battery Storage in Andhra Pradesh

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for the Balance of System (BoS) package of a 70 MW interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar photovoltaic project integrated with a 25 MW/50 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Ramagiri in Andhra Pradesh. The tender marks another step toward deploying dispatchable renewable energy projects that combine solar generation with energy storage to improve grid reliability.

The project will be developed at Ramagiri in the Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh and includes the complete design, engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the solar-plus-storage facility. While the successful bidder will be responsible for supplying all Balance of System components, the scope specifically excludes the supply of solar PV modules. In addition, the selected contractor will provide comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) services for five years after the project's commissioning.

According to the tender document, interested bidders are required to pay a tender processing fee of INR 25,000 plus applicable GST and submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) of INR 3.81 crore. The deadline for online bid submission is July 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM, while techno-commercial bids are scheduled to be opened later the same day at 4:00 PM.

SECI has provided multiple qualification pathways to encourage wider industry participation. Under the first route, bidders must have successfully executed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for ground-mounted grid-connected solar PV projects with a cumulative installed capacity of at least 35 MW over the past seven years, including at least two projects of 7 MW or more that have been operational for a minimum of six months. The second route allows solar project developers with similar project execution experience to qualify.

A third qualification route is available for companies with broader industrial infrastructure expertise. Under this category, bidders must have completed at least one industrial project worth INR 95.31 crore in sectors such as power, steel, oil and gas, petrochemicals, fertilisers, cement, coal mining or other process industries, along with at least one 33 kV or higher voltage electrical substation project. Both projects must have been successfully operational for at least six months before the bid submission deadline.

To demonstrate financial capability, bidders must report a minimum average annual turnover of INR 57.18 crore during the last three financial years. They must also maintain minimum working capital of INR 40.85 crore or provide a bank-certified line of credit of an equivalent amount to meet the project's financial requirements.

The inclusion of a 25 MW/50 MWh Battery Energy Storage System will enable the project to store excess solar energy during periods of high generation and discharge electricity when demand rises or solar output declines. Such hybrid renewable energy projects are increasingly being adopted to improve grid flexibility, reduce renewable energy curtailment and enhance the reliability of clean power supply. Battery storage is expected to play a crucial role as India expands renewable energy capacity and works toward its national target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030. Through projects such as this, SECI continues to support the integration of large-scale renewable energy with energy storage, strengthening the country's transition towards a more resilient and sustainable power system.