Jaipur: Rajasthan has discovered tariffs of Rs 3.42 and Rs 3.53 per unit for its 2,450 MW Pugal solar park integrated with a 6,400 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Bikaner district. The rates are competitive for a project combining large-scale solar generation with battery storage to supply power during peak-demand hours.The tariffs were discovered through an e-reverse auction for the two tranches of the project. The development comprises 2,450 MW of solar capacity and 1,600 MW/6,400 MWh of battery storage, making it one of India’s largest integrated solar-plus-storage projects.The project is designed to store solar power generated during the day and supply it when generation falls or demand peaks. This would help address the intermittency of solar power and improve the availability of renewable energy beyond daylight hours.Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Ltd (RSDCL), a subsidiary of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd, has sought to reduce project risks by providing government land, arranging connectivity for the entire capacity and making site surveys, layouts and geotechnical studies available to bidders.The auction outcome comes amid growing interest in firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE), which requires developers to supply power according to specified schedules rather than only when renewable resources are available. The discovered tariffs could provide a reference for future solar-plus-storage procurements, although comparisons with other projects depend on storage duration and power-supply obligations.The project will add to Rajasthan’s renewable energy infrastructure, but its contribution to reliable power supply will depend on timely execution and the performance of the storage system.
