India’s Energy Storage Push Gains Momentum: SECI Awards 1.2 GWh BESS Project to Pace Digitek and Insolare
- RE Society of India RESI
- Nov 2
- 2 min read
India’s clean energy transition has taken another decisive step forward with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) awarding major contracts for a 600 MW/1,200 MWh standalone grid-connected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Andhra Pradesh. The project, one of the largest of its kind in the country, has been split between Pace Digitek, which will supply the core BESS infrastructure, and Insolare Energy, which will deliver the Balance of System (BoS) package.
Pace Digitek’s Role: Delivering the Core BESS Infrastructure
Contract Value: ₹11.59 billion (~$131.9 million)
Scope of Work:
Design and engineering of the complete BESS.
Supply of direct-current (DC) blocks with HVAC and fire protection systems.
Provision of Power Conversion System (PCS), Battery Management System (BMS), and Energy Management System (EMS).
Integration of BMS and EMS with PCS, along with cabling and interconnections.
Testing, commissioning, and trial operations of the entire system.
Timeline:
50% of supply within 11 months, 100% within 13 months.
Commissioning for 50% within 14 months, full commissioning within 16 months.
Maintenance: Comprehensive 10-year O&M support.
Grid Integration: The BESS will be connected to the Kurnool-3 Substation of the interstate transmission system, enabling market-based operations at Kolimigundla, Nandyal District.
Insolare Energy’s Role: Supplying the Balance of System (BoS) Package
While Pace Digitek focuses on the BESS itself, Insolare Energy has been entrusted with the BoS package for the same 1.2 GWh project. This includes:
Supply and installation of auxiliary electrical and civil infrastructure required to support the BESS.
Ensuring seamless integration of the storage system with SECI’s operational and safety requirements.
Coordinating with Pace Digitek to ensure synchronized commissioning and performance demonstration.
The BoS package is critical because it ensures that the BESS can operate reliably within the grid, handling aspects such as transformers, switchgear, cabling, foundations, and control systems.
Strategic Significance for India’s Energy Transition
Scale: At 1.2 GWh, this project represents one of the largest grid-scale storage deployments in India, setting a benchmark for future tenders.
Policy Alignment: The project is eligible for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under Tranche-II, reflecting the government’s commitment to accelerating storage adoption.
Market Impact: India added only 48.4 MWh of storage capacity in 1H 2025, a sharp decline from last year. This project alone will multiply the country’s installed base nearly threefold once operational.
Operational Role: The BESS will discharge energy through power exchanges during SECI-specified hours, supporting grid stability, renewable integration, and peak demand management.
Outlook
The SECI award to Pace Digitek and Insolare Energy underscores India’s strategic pivot toward large-scale storage as a backbone for its renewable energy ambitions. By combining advanced BESS technology with robust BoS infrastructure, the project is expected to demonstrate how storage can be deployed at scale to stabilize the grid, enable higher renewable penetration, and reduce reliance on fossil-based peaking power.
As India prepares for a surge in renewable capacity additions, this project could serve as a template for future storage tenders, catalyzing both domestic manufacturing and global investment in the sector.
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