Reliance lands 1.86 GWh battery storage in Indian solar-plus-storage tender

Source:www.ess-news.com

Reliance NU Suntech will develop the solar-plus-storage capacity on a build, own, operate basis. The project will supply electricity under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI).

By Uma Gupta, Dec 17, 2024

Image: Torstensimon/Pixabay

The Reliance Power arm of Indian conglomerate Reliance has announced its NU Suntech division has secured 930 MW of solar generation capacity in a solar-plus-storage auction held by SECI.

The terms of the tender exercise dictate Reliance will also have to develop 465 MW/1.86 GWh of energy storage to be charged from the solar site.

The developer made the announcement in relation to a 2 GW grid-connected solar capacity auction held by SECI which required successful bidders to install twice the volume of four-hour storage capacity as they solar generation they were awarded.

Announcement of the tender award, on Dec. 11, 2024, indicates Reliance NU Suntech was the biggest winner in the procurement exercise, among the five successful bidders and the developer secured the solar and storage capacity for INR 3.53 ($0.04)/kWh.

“Reliance NU Suntech’s win underlines the technological progress made in solar power with BESS [battery energy storage systems] in India, which has made it a cost-effective alternative to renewable energy options,” stated the developer. “The project will guarantee a peak power supply of four hours daily (or a four-hour discharge duration).”

Eventful tender

Reliance Power had been subjected to a three-year ban from participating in SECI tenders, as pv magazine India reported on Nov. 7, 2024, after the government body stated Reliance subsidiary Maharashtra Energy Generation Ltd (subsequently known as Reliance NU BESS Ltd.) had submitted fake documentation in relation to a bank guarantee.

Reliance Power stated, in a stock market announcement, the bank guarantee in question had been prepared by a third-party and Reliance had been the “victim of fraud, forgery, and cheating conspiracy.” Reliance announced its intent to fight the SECI disbarment and the government clean energy agency lifted the ban on all Reliance Power entities, apart from Maharashtra Energy Generation Ltd/Reliance NU BESS Ltd., as pv magazine India reported on Dec. 3, 2024.

SECI will sign a 25-year PPA with Reliance NU Suntech for the tendered project and will sell the resulting energy to Indian electricity distribution companies. The site will have to be connected to India’s national interstate electricity transmission system, in compliance with Central Electricity Regulatory Commission regulations.

Reliance Power Ltd has a generation portfolio of 5.3 GW which includes the 3.96 GW, coal-based Sasan Power Ltd plant.

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