Average modular ESS container price per 1GW in India

Are energy storage systems the backbone of India's utility-scale ESS auctions?

Standalone Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are becoming the backbone of India’s utility-scale ESS auctions, accounting for 64% of the total tenders issued between January and March 2025 alone, according to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and JMK Research & Analytics.

Which ESS tenders will increase Indian ESS capacity multifold?

The latest ESS tenders issued by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and NTPC are the first in India to combine standalone ESS with on-demand use. These two standalone ESS tenders, by SECI and NTPC, have a cumulative storage capacity of 1 GW or 4 GWh. Thus, if executed well, these projects will augment Indian ESS capacity multifold.

What is the minimum capacity of ESS in India?

This, along with the SECI tender, marks one of India’s first forays into the large grid-scale standalone ESS. The minimum capacity of a project block at a single interconnection point should be 100MW/600MWh (6-hour solution). Selection of project location is entirely in the developer’s scope.

What is India's ESS capacity compared to GW-scale ESS tenders?

India's current BESS installed capacity(<50MW) is minuscule compared to the current GW-scale standalone ESS tenders. Safe to say, there will be a dearth of suppliers and associated supply chain infrastructure for ESS components at this scale in India.

Are ESS tenders a catalyst for the Indian ESS market?

In the past five years, the ESS tenders have been evolving with innovative and new age tenders such as RTC, Peak Power and now standalone ESS. Current standalone ESS tenders, being the first large-scale tenders of such kind, can be a catalyst for the entire Indian ESS market.

What is the evolution of utility scale ESS tenders in India?

The evolution of Utility Scale ESS tenders in India highlights the increasing focus and efforts of all stakeholders. In the past five years, the ESS tenders have been evolving with innovative and new age tenders such as RTC, Peak Power and now standalone ESS.