The Ministry of Power has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Guidelines for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process for the procurement of power from grid-connected power projects and for the procurement of battery energy storage systems (BESS). The Ministry forwarded the draft to stakeholders on November 10, 2026, and has invited comments within 15 days, by November 25, 2026.  
The draft covers four sets of guidelines: Solar PV Power Projects, Wind Solar Hybrid Projects, Firm and Dispatchable Power from Renewable Energy Projects with Energy Storage Systems, and the Procurement and Utilization of BESS.
BESS procurement
Two amendments are proposed to the BESS guidelines, which were notified in March 2022 and amended in May 2022. The first modifies Clause B 2 of Section III (Bidding Process and Award of Projects) to require that the Request for Selection (RfS) include suitable provisions for compliance with domestic content requirements for BESS projects, in line with Central Government orders. 
The bidding parameters in the clause are unchanged. The procurer may invite bids in terms of BESS capacity, with the parameter being an availability-based fixed charge or annuity (Rs per kW or per MW per year or per month) and/or the quantum of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support required by the bidder for a pre-specified fixed tariff or annuity. The bidding agency may specify one of these in the RfS, depending on the BESS application and the procurer’s off-take arrangements. The envisaged minimum term of the Battery Energy Storage Purchase Agreement (BESPA) remains 8 years, which could be increased as required by the procurement.
The second amendment modifies Section IV, Clause G 2 a ii on the Payment Security Mechanism. The existing clause says the intermediary procurer will collect a non-refundable Rs 5.0 lakh per MWh from BESS developers (BESSDs) for the Payment Security Fund (PSF). The draft changes “will” to “may” and caps the amount at “not exceeding” Rs 5.0 lakh per MWh. It also allows collection in instalments as specified in the RfS and makes the payment optional for developers.
The option of availing the PSF must be stated clearly in the RfS. If the developer opts in, the amount collected will go to the PSF, along with accrued interest, set up by the Government of India for that intermediary procurer.
Solar and hybrid projects
For solar PV projects, Clause 1.1.3 of the existing guidelines is proposed to be amended to enable procurement of solar power from grid-connected solar PV projects, with or without energy storage, through tariff-based competitive bidding. A proviso is being added requiring compliance with Central Government orders and regulations issued by the Authority that mandate installation of energy storage systems (ESS) along with solar PV projects, as well as domestic content requirements for such ESS.
For wind solar hybrid projects, Clause 3.3 is proposed to be amended so that energy storage “shall” be added, instead of “may” be added, to the solar component of the hybrid project, in accordance with Central Government orders and regulations issued by the Authority. Such storage must comply with domestic content requirements under Central Government orders. The draft also deletes the existing sub-clauses that listed the purposes of adding storage: reducing output variability, providing higher energy output for a given capacity at the delivery point, and ensuring availability of firm power for a particular period.
Firm power
Clause 1.1.8 of the guidelines on firm and dispatchable power from renewable energy (RE) projects with ESS is proposed to be amended to add a requirement that storage comply with domestic content requirements under Central Government orders. The rest of the clause is unchanged. It enables procurement of such power by distribution companies (discoms) through tariff-based competitive bidding from grid-connected RE projects with energy storage, and defines firm and dispatchable RE power as supply of electricity as per the demand profile specified in the RfS or bidding documents.
Bajel Projects Ltd has secured a key engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract from Kurnool-IV Power Transmission Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). The order involves building a 765kV double-circuit transmission line connecting Kurnool-IV substation to Kurnool-III Pooling Station (PS), both located in Andhra Pradesh. The line is expected to…
Read More Bajel Projects wins Rs 4 bn transmission order from PGCIL unit
The Ministry of Coal has started scientific coal mining in Meghalaya with production commencing at two blocks: Saryngkham A in East Jaintia Hills and Pyndengshahlang in West Khasi Hills.  Saryngkham A received mining permission on March 10, 2025, and production began on June 3, 2025. Pyndengshahlang was approved on May 2, 2025, with operations starting…
Read More Ministry of Coal begins scientific mining in Meghalaya
Reliance NU Suntech Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Power Limited, signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on May 2, 2025. The agreement covers the development of 930 MW of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) connected solar power capacity, along with a 465 MW/1,860 MWh battery energy…
Read More Reliance signs PPA with SECI for 930 MW solar and BESS project
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has revised its program to electrify 100,000 households in particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) areas through off-grid solar systems.  The initiative, implemented under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA), now has an additional budget allocation…
Read More MNRE revises program to electrify 100,000 PVTG households with off-grid solar
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has approved implementation of the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and Maharashtra’s Swayampurna Maharashtra Awasiya Rooftop Solar (SMART) Scheme, clearing the way for 1 kWp rooftop solar systems for 2,11,206 low-income households across the state. The order, issued on August 19, 2026,…
Read More MERC clears Rs 960 crore rooftop solar scheme for 2.1 lakh Maharashtra households
SSE Renewables has acquired development rights from Low Carbon’s Grid Systems Services for a 120MW/240MWh grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project in County Offaly, Ireland.  The Thornsberry BESS project near Tullamore has received planning consent and grid connection approval, enabling 120MW import/export capacity to the national grid. Once operational, the system could supply backup…
Read More SSE acquires developmental rights for 120MW BESS in Ireland’s Midlands
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Contact Us
[email protected]
© 2026 Power Peak Digest. All rights reserved.

source