Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited has issued an EPC tender for rated capacity of 20MW/120MWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) energy storage project at its 165MW gas-based power plant in Vadodara, Gujarat. The project will include 10 years of O&M and use existing 132kV grid infrastructure with operations planned at around 1.5 cycles per day under a framework approved by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited. The pilot long-duration storage project is intended to support renewable integration, grid flexibility and large-scale demonstration of VRFB technology in India.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Project: Vadodara VRFB BESS Project
Capacity: 20MW/120MWh
Location: Vadodara
Developer: Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited
Technology: Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)
Project Type: Grid-scale long-duration energy storage
Grid Connection: Existing 132kV GIPCL substation
Supporting Authority: Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited
Commissioning Authority: Gujarat Energy Development Agency
Tender Release Date: 21 May 2026
Site Visit Date: 05 June 2026
Query Submission Deadline: 10 June 2026
Pre-bid Meeting: 15 June 2026
Bid Submission Deadline: 25 June 2026
Physical Bid Submission: 01 July 2026
Project Completion Timeline: 18 months from Letter of Intent (LoI)
OAT Completion Timeline: Within 30 days of commissioning
O&M Duration: 10 years
Required RTE: Minimum 60% during OAT
Status: EPC tender stage
Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited (GIPCL) invites bids for design, engineering, supply & procurement, civil construction, erection, testing, commissioning and taking over of the complete BESS project with rated capacity of 20MW/120MWh. The performance shall be measured at the 132 kV GIPCL substation injection point.
The proposed project will be developed within the premises of GIPCL’s 165 MW gas-fired power station and will use the existing step-up transformer, 132 kV switchyard and transmission infrastructure.
Apart from the battery installation, the contract package also covers development of supporting infrastructure such as internal roads, drainage arrangements and evacuation systems up to 11 kV level. Modifications to the existing electrical network and communication systems are also part of the tender scope, including work related to transformers, switchgear, bus ducts, transmission lines, telecom systems and security infrastructure.
The selected EPC contractor will execute the complete scope of the project, ranging from detailed engineering and procurement to civil construction, erection, testing and final project handover. Long-term operation and maintenance services for a period of 10 years have also been included in the contract requirements.
The project has received in-principle approval from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL), which is supporting the project as part of efforts to evaluate long-duration energy storage systems for grid applications and renewable energy integration.
According to the proposed operating framework, the storage facility is expected to function at nearly 1.5 cycles each day. GIPCL noted that the final operating schedule may be modified in coordination with GUVNL depending on grid conditions and operational requirements.
Grid synchronization will require preliminary and final written notices to GIPCL, the State Load Dispatch Centre, Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA), Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited and GUVNL ahead of the intended synchronization date. Synchronization will proceed only after approval of the synchronization scheme and verification by relevant grid authorities.
The commissioning process will involve submission of all required approvals and technical documentation to GIPCL and GEDA. The project will be considered commissioned once the complete rated capacity has been installed, synchronized with the grid, operational parameters demonstrated and certification issued by GEDA. The agency may also issue provisional commissioning certification after witnessing energy flow into or out of the grid pending final documentation review.
Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT) is required within 30 days of commissioning to verify compliance with functional, operational, safety and performance requirements, including rated power and energy capacity, response time and system integration capabilities. The tender specifies that a round-trip efficiency below 60% during the OAT period will constitute non-compliance.
If the contractor fails the first OAT attempt, corrective measures may be undertaken within an additional 30-day period before a second test is conducted. Failure during the second attempt will result in a penalty equivalent to 1% of the EPC contract value, although further testing attempts may be allowed at GIPCL’s discretion. The operation and maintenance period will commence either after successful completion of OAT or within 60 days from commissioning, whichever occurs earlier.
The project’s Performance Guarantee Test period will evaluate metrics including rated power output, energy capacity, availability, response time, dispatch compliance and round-trip efficiency. GIPCL stated that performance guarantees linked to availability and operational efficiency will apply from the beginning of this period.
The 10-year O&M phase will begin concurrently with the Performance Guarantee Test period. Through the tender, GIPCL aims to demonstrate the technical and operational viability of VRFB-based long-duration energy storage systems for grid-scale applications in Gujarat’s evolving power sector.
Download of original tender opened on May 21, 2026, with a site visit by bidders on June 5, 2026 and the last date for online bid submission set for June 25, 2026. Physical submission of bid documents must be completed by July 1, 2026 at GIPCL’s corporate office in Ranoli, Vadodara.