Govt proposes 300 MW solar project with battery storage

PANAJI

The Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has invited bids for a massive 300 MW solar photovoltaic (solar power) project integrated with a 150 MW/900 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). 

The Request for Selection (RfS) was issued by the agency which functions under the State ministry for power last week.

The project is planned on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis for 25 years. It aims to provide firm and dispatchable power to the Goa Electricity Department (GED), particularly during peak demand hours between 6 pm and 9 am.

The facility will be connected to the State Transmission Utility (STU) network at the nearest 220 kV substation. Developers will be responsible for building transmission lines, a pooling substation, and carrying out necessary grid upgrades.

A key requirement however is land. The tender specifies a minimum of 650 acres of contiguous land for the project, a condition which raises questions about feasibility in Goa where land availability is limited and widely contested.

Eligibility criteria are stringent though. Bidders must have at least 10 years of experience, a track record of commissioning 300 MW of solar capacity, and a net worth of Rs 1,000 crore. 

An earnest money deposit of Rs 5 crore and a performance bank guarantee of Rs 15 crore are also mandatory and the project must be completed within 24 months of signing the power purchase agreement (PPA).

Interestingly, the move comes months after NTPC Renewable Energy Limited signed an MoU with GEDA in July last year to develop 300 MW of renewable energy capacity in Goa.  NTPC had later floated a separate EPC tender for a similar solar project.

While the government’s push for renewable energy is clear, the massive land requirement and execution timeline have raised questions over its practicality. Energy experts say the integration of large-scale storage is a positive step toward reliable green power, but land acquisition could prove to be the biggest hurdle.