NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) has successfully concluded the auction for its 500 MW/1000 MWh standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Rajasthan, initiated under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme. The tender, for which the Request for Selection (RfS) was floated in February 2025, attracted strong participation from five developers. All bidders quoted tariffs within the permissible 2% range of the lowest bid, making them eligible for award consideration. The results mark a significant step forward in India’s grid-scale energy storage deployment, with competitive pricing and substantial capacities bid across the board.
- Solar91 Cleantech Limited emerged as the top-ranked bidder, quoting exactly the start price of ₹216,000 per MW for a 50 MW capacity. Close behind was:
- Stockwell Solar Services Private Limited: ₹218,999/MW for 225 MW
- Oriana Power Limited: ₹219,000/MW for 125 MW
- Hexx Renewable Solutions Limited: ₹219,000/MW for 125 MW
With all bids falling within the acceptable 2% threshold, each of the five bidders remains eligible for award consideration. Notably, the auction design allowed for strategic flexibility, including the absence of restrictions on how deeply bidders could cut prices in one go, fostering highly competitive dynamics.
For the global energy storage community, this auction is a compelling signal of India’s deepening focus on grid-scale storage and market-led pricing. It highlights a maturing ecosystem where developers are ready to engage at scale, with tight margins, to secure a position in one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy landscapes. Rajasthan’s storage auction not only advances India’s energy transition roadmap but also sets an operational and financial benchmark for large-scale BESS integration across emerging markets.
