Coal India, Onward Solar Power Win SECI’s 125 MW/500 MWh Standalone BESS Auction in Odisha
Coal India (80 MW/320 MWh) and Onward Solar Power (45 MW/180 MWh) have emerged as winners in Solar Energy Corporation of India’s auction to develop six standalone BESS projects in Odisha with a cumulative capacity of 125 MW/500 MWh.
March 02, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey
Coal India has secured a total capacity of 80 MW/320 MWh, comprising four projects with a capacity of 20 MW/80 MWh each. It won Cluster I, with 40 MW/160 MWh capacity, at a tariff of INR 3.04 lakh/MW/month, and Cluster II, with 40 MW/160 MWh capacity, at a tariff of INR 3.05 lakh/MW/month.
Onward Solar Power have secured 45 MW/180 MWh at a tariff of INR 3.75 lakh/MW/month.
The tender for this was floated in December 2025.
The projects must be set up under a build-own-operate (BOO) model. The BESSD must set up, operate and maintain a BESS, with the primary objective of making the energy storage facility available to the GRIDCO for charging/discharging of the BESS, on an 'on demand basis.
The projects will be eligible for a viability gap funding (VGF) support at INR 18 lakh/MWh.
The projects must be set up inside the identified substations of the STU network in Odisha. Land identification and allocation for the projects will be under the scope of the GRIDCO/OPTCL owning the identified substations. Land will be provided on a right-to-use basis to the BESSD.
Setting up of the BESS and interconnection of the BESS with the STU network, including the construction of the new bay and safety of the equipment/personnel, will be under the scope of the BESSD.
Scheduling for charging and discharging of the BESS system will be under the scope of the SLDC/GRIDCO. The BESS must be charged by drawing power from the OPTCL network and discharged by injecting power into the OPTCL network.
The BESSD must guarantee a minimum system availability of 95 percent on an annual basis.
The application software of the energy management system (EMS) of the BESS must be developed indigenously within India. The use of refurbished or second-hand battery cells in the project is strictly prohibited.
please contact: contact@energetica-india.net.
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