The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has announced the results of its viability gap funding (VGF) tender to set up six standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a total capacity of 125 MW/500 MWh in Odisha. Coal India won Cluster I (two 20 MW/80 MWh projects each), with a total capacity of 40 MW/160 MWh. The projects were secured at an amount of Rs 304,000 per MW per month. The company also won Cluster II (two projects of 20 MW/80 MWh each), with a total capacity of 40 MW/160 MWh, at an amount of Rs 305,000 per MW per month. Furthermore, Onward Solar Power secured capacity of 45 MW/180 MWh at an amount of Rs 375,000 per MW per month.
According to the tender guidelines, the scope of work covers the development, ownership, and operation of the standalone BESS projects. It also encompasses providing 15 years of operations and maintenance services from the scheduled commissioning date. The VGF for each developer is capped at Rs 1.8 million per MWh of the awarded project capacity. The tender was floated earlier in December 2025.
Earlier in February 2026, SECI floated a tender for the supply of 870 MWp of solar photovoltaic modules, which have to be manufactured using domestically produced cells.
