India tenders 2.45 GW solar power projects with battery storage

One of the biggest solar-plus-storage competitive bids in the nation's history, the Rajasthan government has released a historic tender to build 2,450 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity and 1,600 MW/6,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage systems (BESS) at the Pugal Solar Park in Bikaner district.

An important step in India's transition to dependable renewable energy, the enormous project, run by Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Ltd (RSDCL) on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis, aims to combine utility-scale solar and long-duration storage to generate clean, dispatchable power.

The 2.45 GW solar and 6.4 GWh storage proposal at Pugal Solar Park, if completed, could serve as a model for future renewable energy projects in India by showing how high-capacity battery systems can be combined with solar power at scale to reliably satisfy peak electricity demand.

By facilitating grid resilience and decarbonization throughout the region and supporting national goals for renewable energy growth, the project is anticipated to expedite India's clean power ambitions and establish Rajasthan as a leader in dispatchable green electricity in Asia.