SECI seeks 800 MW, 3.2 GWh storage capacity

The Solar Energy Corporation of India published a Request for Selection on October 6, 2026 for 800 MW / 3,200 MWh of standalone battery storage, targeting four-hour duration assets under a tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism. Reaction pending.

SECI-ESS-IV four-hour tender

The solicitation, referenced SECI/C&P/IPP/15/0010/26-27 and labelled SECI-ESS-IV, requires bidders to offer build-own-operate contracts for four-hour batteries, the document showed. The package size implies 800 MW of nameplate capacity delivering 3,200 MWh of storage at full four-hour discharge, and it sets specific technical, timeline and commercial conditions for awarded projects.

Bidders face compressed delivery windows and large upfront capital commitments, the tender shows, which shifts execution risk onto developers and their lenders. That combination elevates project financing needs and could compress margins for independent power producers and battery suppliers that must secure long-term supply and construction contracts.

For the energy market the procurement is a sizeable step toward adding utility-scale storage capacity, but its near-term market impact will depend on how many firms bid and the profile of tariffs accepted. The tender reference to 26-27 indicates the procurement is framed within the 2026-27 fiscal year; market participants will watch for award timelines and clarifications.

Market watchers should monitor the tender schedule and clarifications; expect attention on awards by March 31, 2027.