NEW DELHI — In a major step to boost India’s grid-scale renewable energy storage infrastructure, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting global bids to establish giga-scale Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) manufacturing facilities.
The global tender aims to set up a cumulative 10 GWh capacity under the flagship Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for ACC Battery Storage, specifically earmarked for Grid-Scale Stationary Storage (GSSS) applications.
Powering Grid Stability and Clean Energy Goals
This bidding round targets the remaining capacity of the national program to support India’s rapid expansion of solar and wind power installations:
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Grid-Scale Focus: The entire 10 GWh capacity is dedicated to stationary storage systems, which are vital for stabilizing the national power grid as intermittent renewable energy sources grow.
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The PLI Umbrella: This tender forms part of the national program approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2021, which carries a total budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore to build a 50 GWh domestic ACC ecosystem.
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Current Progress: Out of the initial 50 GWh target, 40 GWh capacity has already been successfully awarded to domestic manufacturers, leaving this 10 GWh round to complete the allocation.
Bidding Timeline and QCBS Mechanism
The ministry is utilizing a highly competitive procurement framework to attract top-tier global and domestic technology players:
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Selection Criteria: The selection will be executed through a two-stage Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism on the Central Public Procurement (CPP) Portal to maintain transparency.
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Key Milestones:
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Tender Launch: July 15, 2026
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Pre-Bid Conference: July 29, 2026
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Bid Submission Deadline: October 13, 2026
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Technical Bid Opening: October 14, 2026
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The Strategic View: India’s push for local gigafactories aims to break its heavy reliance on imported battery cells, primarily from China. By tying this 10 GWh tender specifically to grid-scale stationary storage, the government is building the backup capacity needed to manage a green electricity grid while cultivating a self-reliant high-tech manufacturing sector.
