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					</table><p>NLC India Renewables (NIRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of <a href="https://www.nlcindia.in/website/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLC India</a>, has invited bids to appoint an engineering consultant to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for a pumped storage project in Odisha.</p>
<p>The 750 MW project, proposed at the Brahmani River Stream in Odisha, will have three 250 MW vertical reversible Francis pump turbine units. The preliminary configuration specifies a rated net head of 304.57 meters during generation and 317.38 meters during pumping.</p>
<p>The last date to submit bids is October 27, 2026. Bids will be opened the same day.</p>
<p>The tender document fee is ₹3,000 (~$31), and bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹500,000 (~$5,211). Micro and Small Enterprises with valid Udyam registration are exempt from paying the tender document fee and furnishing the bid guarantee.</p>
<p>The project is envisaged to generate for 6.07 hours and pump for 6.99 hours a day under a one-cycle operating configuration. For 1.5 cycles, the corresponding generation and pumping durations are 9.07 hours and 10.44 hours, respectively.</p>
<p>At one cycle a day, the project is estimated to generate 1,579.5 million units annually while consuming 1,989.3 million units for pumping. At 1.5 cycles, annual generation is estimated at 2,360.1 million units against pumping energy consumption of 2,972.5 million units. The estimated cycle efficiency is 79.4%.</p>
<p>The selected consultant must conduct detailed studies and prepare the DPR in accordance with Central Electricity Authority (CEA) guidelines and applicable standards.</p>
<p>The scope has been divided into three parts. The first covers preparation of the complete DPR for the 750 MW project. The second covers geotechnical investigations, geological studies, construction material testing, surveys, and other investigations required to prepare the DPR and implement the project.</p>
<p>The third part covers assistance in obtaining statutory clearances and approvals from the relevant authorities, including techno-economic clearance from CEA. This portion of the work may be taken up later under a separate schedule mutually agreed upon with the selected consultant.</p>
<p>The consultant must optimize reservoir storage capacity and operating levels and assess the type of pump turbines to be deployed, including whether fixed-speed or adjustable-speed machines should be used. The studies must determine the optimum installed capacity, size and number of units, generation and pumping energy, hydraulic parameters, and operating criteria in generation and pumping modes.</p>
<p>The consultant must also assess electricity availability for pumping throughout the year and examine the project&#8217;s viability based on peak and off-peak electricity tariffs. The study must consider the project&#8217;s potential to store surplus solar and other renewable energy from the grid or from dedicated renewable energy projects.</p>
<p>The scope also includes designs, drawings, and cost estimates for the powerhouse, head race and tailrace tunnels, pressure shafts or penstocks, surge shafts, and other project structures.</p>
<p>The consultant must complete the DPR preparation and investigation works within 12 months from the date of the work order. The schedule for assistance with statutory approvals and CEA clearance may be finalized separately.</p>
<p>Bidders must have experience working as engineering consultants for government, quasi-government, public sector, or private organizations in preparing a DPR for at least one pumped storage or hydropower project with a minimum capacity of 100 MW in India or overseas during the 15 years preceding the original scheduled tender opening date.</p>
<p>They must have completed one similar work valued at a minimum of ₹150 million (~$1.563 million), including goods and services tax, or two similar works valued at a minimum of ₹95 million (~$990,099) each, or three similar works valued at a minimum of ₹75 million (~$781,657) each.</p>
<p>Bidders must have a positive net worth according to their latest audited financial statements. Their average annual turnover during the preceding three financial years must be at least ₹300 million (~$3.127 million).</p>
<p>India’s total installed PSP capacity is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cea-highlights-pumped-storage-as-base-load-to-address-peak-power-demand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a> to reach approximately 87 GW by 2033-34, according to CEA. The average annual capacity addition is projected to be 9 GW, resulting in total installed capacity exceeding 100 GW by 2035-36.</p>
<p>Agencies in India issued tenders for 44.1 GW and auctioned 16.3 GW of renewable energy capacity across energy storage, hybrid, utility-scale solar, wind, manufacturing, and rooftop solar projects in the first half (1H) of 2026, according to Mercom India’s newly released <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-renewable-energy-procurement-1h-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Renewable Energy Procurement and Demand Report</a>.</p>


NLC India Renewables Floats Consultancy Tender for Pumped Storage Project


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					</table><p><a href="https://sjvn.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SJVN</a> has announced the winner of the auction for a 265 MW/530 MWh standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Haryana.</p>
<p>The tender comprised a 250 MW/500 MWh BESS project supported under the Power System Development Fund’s (PSDF) viability gap funding (VGF) program and a 15 MW/30 MWh BESS project under the state component of the VGF program.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nlcindia.in/website/en/corebusiness/renewableprojects.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLC India Renewables</a> won the total tendered capacity of 265 MW/530 MWh at a tariff of ₹235,000 (~$2,448)/MW/month.</p>
<p>The tender was <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-invites-bids-for-265-mw-530-mwh-battery-storage-project-in-haryana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> in July this year.</p>
<p>SJVN will act as the renewable energy implementing agency and intermediary procurer, while Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVNL) will procure the storage capacity.</p>
<p>The projects will be developed near the 220 kV substation of Haryana Power Generation Corporation’s 710 MW Panipat Thermal Power Station in Panipat.</p>
<p>Both project components must remain physically distinguishable up to the plant pooling substation and connect only to the designated 220 kV substation.</p>
<p>NLC India Renewables will be responsible for the design, engineering, financing, procurement, construction, commissioning, ownership, operation, and maintenance of the BESS projects, including the associated evacuation infrastructure up to the delivery point.</p>
<p>SJVN will sign a 12-year battery energy storage purchase agreement with NLC India Renewables and supply the contracted storage capacity to UHBVNL on a back-to-back basis.</p>
<p>NLC India Renewables will receive VGF of up to ₹1.8 million (~$18,674)/MWh for the 250 MW/500 MWh project under the PSDF. The 15 MW/30 MWh project will be eligible for VGF under the state component, subject to a ceiling of ₹1.8 million (~$18,674)/MWh or 30% of the project cost, whichever is lower.</p>
<p>The storage systems must provide two hours of discharge at rated power, with charging and discharging C-rates of 0.5. They must support two complete charge-and-discharge cycles each day. UHBVNL may split each discharge cycle into up to two sessions, provided each session lasts at least one continuous hour.</p>
<p>UHBVNL will supply the charging energy. The scheduled discharged energy cannot exceed 85% of the charging energy supplied by the utility. SJVN will charge a trading margin of ₹0.07/kWh on the discharged energy.</p>
<p>The tender requires at least 20% local content to qualify for VGF under the PSDF component. Refurbished battery cells are not permitted, and the Energy Management System application software must be developed in India.</p>
<p>If UHBVNL is unable to offtake the available power for reasons other than grid constraints or force majeure, NLC India Renewables may sell the available energy to a third party in accordance with the agreement.</p>
<p>The projects must maintain a minimum monthly availability of 95% and a minimum monthly alternating current-to-alternating current round-trip efficiency of 85%.</p>
<p>NLC India Renewables must maintain the prescribed dispatchable capacity throughout the 12-year contract period by augmenting or replacing batteries, if required.</p>
<p>Planned maintenance outages cannot exceed 34 hours during any two-month period and must be notified at least one month in advance.</p>
<p>In February this year, Madhya Pradesh-based Hardi Hydro Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/hardi-hydro-energy-wins-sjvns-250-mw-500-mwh-standalone-bess-auction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> SJVN’s auction to set up 250 MW/500 MWh of standalone BESS at the 1,360 MW Panipat thermal power station in Haryana. Hardi Hydro Energy won the entire tendered capacity by quoting a tariff of ₹197,000 (~$2,174)/MW/month.</p>
<p>Earlier, Patel Infrastructure and Enerica Infra 3 (EnerGrid) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/patel-infrastructure-enerica-win-sjvns-1-5-gwh-battery-energy-storage-auction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> SJVN’s auction to develop a 375 MW/1,500 MWh standalone BESS in Uttar Pradesh under the build-own-operate model.</p>


SJVN Announces Winner of 265 MW/530 MWh Battery Storage Auction


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					</table><p>NLC India Renewables (NIRL) has announced the winner of its project management consultancy auction for two battery energy storage system projects totaling 275 MW/650 MWh and a 50 MW solar project in Tamil Nadu.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nlcindia.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLC India</a> had floated the consultancy tender on behalf of its subsidiary NIRL.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ahasolar.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ahasolar Technologies</a> has been declared the winner of this auction.</p>
<p>The tender was floated in June 2026.</p>
<p>The projects comprise a 250 MW/500 MWh battery energy storage system project, a 50 MW solar project at Mine-II, and a 25 MW/150 MWh battery energy storage system project in Neyveli.</p>
<p>The projects must be completed within 18 months.</p>
<p>The scope of work covers end-to-end project management, including project planning, scheduling and monitoring, material inspection, risk analysis, documentation and handover, and support during the defect liability and operation and maintenance transition periods.</p>
<p>It also entails quality assurance, compliance with environmental, social, and governance, and safety requirements, project closeout, and submitting project-related reports, data, and information required by lenders.</p>
<p>In July 2026, Ahasolar was <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/coal-india-announces-winner-of-750-mwh-energy-storage-consultancy-auction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> the winner of Coal India’s auction to appoint an owner’s engineer-cum-engineering consultancy firm for an 187.5 MW/750 MWh battery energy storage system at Telangana Transmission Corporation’s Choutuppal substation.</p>
<p>Last year, Ahasolar <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ahasolar-wins-consultancy-contract-for-875-mw-solar-project-from-coal-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> a work order for providing owner’s engineering and project management consultancy services for an 875 MW solar power project from Coal India Rajasthan Akshay Urja.</p>
<p>In August of the same year, Ahasolar <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ahasolar-wins-consultancy-contract-for-sccls-107-mw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> a project management consultancy contract from Singareni Collieries Company for establishing a 107 MW solar project.</p>


NIRL Declares Winner of Solar, Storage Consultancy Auction


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.nlcindia.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLC India</a> has approved the listing of its wholly-owned subsidiary, NLC India Renewables (NIRL), on the stock exchanges through the sale of up to 25% of its equity.</p>
<p>The NLC board’s in-principle approval of the listing proposal will be communicated to the Ministry of Coal for onward submission to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management.</p>
<p>The board of NLC India also approved investing ₹666 million (~$7.38 million) in NIRL by subscribing to its equity shares. The transaction will be completed in one or more tranches, at the end of which NLC will have acquired 100% of NIRL’s equity.</p>
<p>The investment will help in developing green energy projects, to be implemented through joint ventures.</p>
<p>In December 2025, NLC India and PTC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-ptc-joint-venture-aims-to-develop-2-gw-renewable-energy-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> into a joint venture to develop 2 GW of renewable energy projects. The JV will undertake the development, operation, and maintenance of solar, wind, hydro, battery energy storage systems, and green ammonia. It aims to develop green energy capacity of up to 2,000 MW in phases. In the first phase, the joint venture will aim for a capacity of 500 MW.</p>
<p>NLC India has declared an interim dividend of 36% on the face value of its paid-up equity shares of ₹10 (~$0.11) each for the financial year 2026.</p>
<p>In July 2025,  NLC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-to-invest-%E2%82%B916-3-billion-in-renewables-subsidiary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">granted</a> an in-principle approval to invest up to ₹16.3 billion (~$190 million) in one or more tranches in NIRL. This investment would be utilized to support NIRL’s renewable energy projects via capital expenditure funding.</p>
<p>In December 2025, NLC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-secures-100-million-green-loan-from-sumitomo-mitsui" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> a green loan of ¥154.64 billion (~$100 million) from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The loan proceeds funding will be used to support capital expenditure for renewable energy projects through NIRL, helping optimize margins and accelerate its green energy initiatives.</p>
<p>In December 2025, NLC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-wins-contract-for-110-mw-solar-projects-in-uttar-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> a letter of acceptance from the National Capital Region Transport Corporation for setting up 110 MW ground-mounted solar projects in Uttar Pradesh.</p>


NLC India Approves Plan to List Renewable Energy Subsidiary NIRL


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					</table><p>NLC India Renewables, a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.nlcindia.in/website/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLC India</a>, has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with <a href="https://www.ptcindia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PTC India</a> to develop renewable energy projects with a capacity of 2 GW.</p>
<p>This follows a memorandum of understanding entered into by the two companies in September.</p>
<p>The JV will undertake the development, operation, and maintenance of renewable projects, including solar, wind, hydro, battery energy storage systems (BESS), green ammonia, and other emerging green technologies.</p>
<p>It aims to develop green energy capacity of up to 2,000 MW in phases. In the first phase, the joint venture will aim for a capacity of 500 MW.</p>
<p>The JV will sell power to distribution companies, government entities, and the commercial and industrial sector.</p>
<p>Recently, NLC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-wins-contract-for-110-mw-solar-projects-in-uttar-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> a letter of acceptance from the National Capital Region Transport for setting up 110 MW ground-mounted solar projects in Uttar Pradesh. The projects will be developed in captive mode.</p>
<p>In December 2025, NLC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-secures-100-million-green-loan-from-sumitomo-mitsui" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> a green loan of ¥154.64 billion (~$100 million) from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation to support capital expenditure for renewable energy projects through NLC India Renewables.</p>
<p>NLC India has a total <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-commissions-106-mw-solar-project-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">installed</a> renewable energy capacity of over 1,484 MW, comprising ground-mounted solar, rooftop solar, floating solar, and wind power projects.</p>
<p>The company’s solar portfolio includes multiple projects across India, including a 10 MW solar power plant in Neyveli, commissioned in 2015, supplying power to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) under a power purchase agreement (PPA). The portfolio also includes a 130 MW solar project at Neyveli, implemented in two 65 MW blocks, commissioned in 2017 under the central public sector undertaking program.</p>
<p>It also operates a 500 MW and a 709 MW solar power project in Tamil Nadu, commissioned between 2018 and 2019, with PPAs signed with TANGEDCO.</p>
<p>In November 2025, NLC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-commissions-106-mw-solar-project-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commissioned</a> 106 MW as part of the second phase of its 300 MW solar project at Barsingsar in Bikaner, Rajasthan.</p>


NLC India-PTC Joint Venture Aims to Develop 2 GW Renewable Energy Projects


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					</table><p>In a major push for clean energy, the government has allowed two central public sector enterprises to invest up to ₹270 billion (~$3.14 billion) in their renewable energy subsidiaries.</p>
<p>The decision by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is expected to facilitate the acceleration of India’s renewable energy project development and ensure investments in reliable, round-the-clock electricity across the country.</p>
<p>The CCEA authorized <a href="https://ntpc.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NTPC</a> to invest up to ₹200 billion (~$2.32 billion) in its renewable energy subsidiaries, NTPC Green Energy (<a href="https://www.ngel.in/ngel-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NGEL</a>) and NTPC Renewable Energy (<a href="https://ntpcrel.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NREL</a>), as well as other joint ventures. The earlier investment cap was ₹75 billion (~$873.38 million).</p>
<p>NGEL has a renewable energy portfolio of approximately 32 GW. Of this capacity, approximately 6 GW is operational, roughly 17 GW is contracted or under award, and 9 GW is in the pipeline.</p>
<p>The increase in the investment limit will help NTPC’s subsidiaries achieve their goal of 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.</p>
<p>The government also approved a special exemption for NLC India (<a href="https://www.nlcindia.in/website/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLCIL</a>) from the prevailing investment guidelines for public sector enterprises to invest ₹70 billion (~$815.16 million) in its wholly owned subsidiary, NLC India Renewables (NIRL). NIRL will invest this amount in multiple projects, either directly or by forming joint ventures, without requiring prior approval under the existing delegation of powers.</p>
<p>This investment is also exempted from the 30% net worth ceiling prescribed by the Department of Public Enterprises for total investments by central public sector enterprises in joint ventures and subsidiaries.</p>
<p>NLC India aims to develop 10.11 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with a projected expansion to 32 GW by 2047. It currently operates seven renewable energy assets with a total installed capacity of 2 GW. These assets are either operational or close to commercial operation. They will be transferred to NIRL after the Cabinet’s approval.</p>
<p>Recently, NLCIL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nlc-india-to-invest-%E2%82%B916-3-billion-in-renewables-subsidiary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">granted</a> an in-principle approval to invest up to ₹16.3 billion (~$190 million) in one or more tranches in NIRL.</p>
<p>In June this year, NTPC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-raises-750-million-via-external-commercial-borrowing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> an unsecured $750 million via an external commercial borrowing syndicated term loan facility.</p>


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